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Sunlight: Our Friend or Enemy?
The Real Story Behind Sunlight
Sunlight
Sunlight Does NOT Cause
Cancer
luted water. Unnatural “bad
fats” such as margarine are
unknown to them.
Contrary to popular belief,
sunlight does not cause cancer. In fact, cancer rates are
much lower where there is
the most sunlight, such as
near the equator. In his excellent book, Sunlight, Dr. Zane
Kime, M.D., reports many
scientific studies that demonstrate sunlight’s beneficial
effects in lowering cholesterol, blood pressure
and blood sugar and how sunlight can increase
endurance, sex hormone levels, immunity and
even promote weight loss.
The Culprit: Chemicalized
Food
Studies show that the incidence
of cancer is 6 to 10 times lower
nearer the equator, where sunlight is the strongest and where
“civilized diets” with its “bad
fats” and chemicalized food
are rare. People who eat “close to the earth” and
who have consistent, daily exposure to the sun
are much less likely to develop skin cancer, such
as melanoma, than city folks who are inside all
day, getting very little sunlight exposure and eating poor diets.
What About Sun and Skin Cancer?
Although skin cancer is the result of many
factors, Dr. Kime reveals that it is not sunlight
alone that leads to skin cancer. He shows that the
reaction of sunlight with toxic dietary chemicals
in the skin (especially from the consumption
of “bad fats” such as margarine) can lead to
skin cancer. He also shows how consuming a
diet rich in key nutrients such as antioxidants
can protect against toxic sunlight reactions as
well as allowing us to absorb the full spectrum
of healing wavelengths naturally present in
sunlight.
The Sunlight-Nutrient Connection
For those who have a steady diet of restaurant
food (which guarantees constant food chemical
exposure), the result is a poor nutritional status.
For these folks, sunlight can trigger free radical
formation and skin damage that may often lead
to skin cancer. Free radicals can cause skin to age
prematurely, wrinkle, and sunburn, which can
damage DNA and cause skin lesions.
In contrast, research shows that diets rich in key
nutrients such as good oils and antioxidants, can
help protect the skin against aging and sunlight
damage. Antioxidants such as carotenes, can
reduce the risk of cancer, including skin cancer,
and help prevent DNA damage that can lead to
degenerative disease.
Carotenes, a class of compounds found in
many plants, can help reduce the free radical
activity that causes damage and premature aging
of cells. Carotenes are being called nature’s “sun
umbrella.” Since they are used up during exposure
to sunlight, one’s dietary supply must be adequate
to provide continuous protection. Unfortunately,
very few Americans get adequate amounts of
antioxidants such as carotene because of lack of
fresh fruits and vegetables.
Cancer: Once Very Rare
In the middle of today’s cancer epidemic, it’s
difficult to remember that cancer was once a rare
disease affecting less than 1% of the population.
Today’s statistics predict one out of every three
will develop cancer. Some of the healthiest,
most long-lived cultures in the world, such
as the Hunzas and Vilcambabas, live at high
elevations where sunlight is much more intense
than at sea level. These people typically spend
many long hours outside every day, especially
in farming. Yet they have traditionally lived
to very old ages without getting any form of
cancer. Their cultures also have diets rich in
whole foods, grown without chemicals or polL I T E R A T U R E
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Blaming the Sun For Poor Diets
Dr. Kime finds we are blaming the sun for problems
that are really caused by poor diets which lead to toxic
sunlight reactions such as skin cancer. For example, one
study showed a 700% increase in skin cancer in people
who ate margarine – these bad fats created a toxic reaction in their skin in the sun. Trans fatty acids such as
margarine have been proven to be so harmful that they
have even been banned in several European countries.
What About Sunscreens?
A few decades of sunscreen use has not stopped the
increasing rate skin cancer. In fact, since chemicals in
sunscreens may become carcinogenic (cancer-producing)
when exposed to sunlight, use of toxic sunscreens may
be part of the problem. Researchers at the University
of Pennsylvania found that so-called broad-spectrum
sunscreens do not protect against the full spectrum of
the sun’s rays, including ultraviolet.
Ultraviolet radiation consists of over 100 different
frequencies. Sunscreens do not protect against all of
these frequencies, especially when you’ve been eating
bad fats. Worse yet, researchers are confused as to which
of the sun’s rays are beneficial and which are not. This
is because few researchers have made the connection
between poor diet and harmful effects of sunlight. As
Dr. Kime points out, if one person has good nutrient
status, the sun’s rays may be very beneficial. However,
if another person has poor nutrient status, the same sun
exposure may be very harmful.
False Security
Using a sunscreen can create a false sense of security
when you’re in the sun and may actually increase your
risk of skin cancer. Researchers at the M.D. Anderson
Cancer Center in Houston point out: “There is no substantial evidence that sunscreens protect against any of the
three forms of skin cancer.” Dr. Robin Marks, a dermatologist and a professor at the University of Melbourne,
finds: “Relying on synthetic chemicals to prevent cancer
is laughable.” Dr. Arthur Rhodes, a University of Pittsburgh dermatologist, concludes that sunscreens “appear
weakly effective or ineffective” at preventing cancer.
Judging from the original blueprints for a human,
we were clearly designed to receive sunlight regularly
for good health. In fact, worldwide research shows that
sunlight is absolutely essential for good health. Dr. Kime
points out that sunlight is not harmful to healthy people
who have adequate amounts of nutrients such as antioxidants and essential fatty acids. It appears that nature
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intended we get most of our vitamin D from the sun since
vitamin D is almost totally absent in vegetable foods.
Osteoporosis and Lack of Sunlight
When sunlight strikes the skin, it sets off a multi-staged
process whereby cholesterol is ultimately changed into
vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for the utilization of calcium and for collagen formation to build healthy bones.
Lack of sunlight is partially responsible for our epidemic
of osteoporosis, especially in older people. Osteoporosis
is severe bone loss that can lead to terrible joint and bone
pain, fractures and humping over. One study found that
36% of elderly men and 47% of elderly women were
critially deficient in vitamin D. Even moderate sun exposure (including indirect sunlight) can help to alleviate
this problem. However, sunlight through window glass
will not activate vitamin D synthesis.
Sunlight and Eye Health
All of life developed and flourished under the sun. Without sunlight, life could not exist. For best eye health,
the retina needs the whole spectrum of solar radiation.
Sunlight absorbed by the retina of the eye is a very important skin and whole body nutrient. Research shows
that sunlight frequencies entering the eye are dispersed to
every organ, gland and body system. Wearing glasses or
contacts, especially tinted lenses, can screen out important
frequencies that are critical to good health. However, if
you currently have a poor nutrient status, you may need
to temporarily avoid direct sunlight exposure until you
improve your nutrient status.
Good Nutrition and Sunlight
If you are a typical “cave dweller,” inside all day with
very little sunlight exposure, eating mostly a restaurant
diet, the first key is good nutrition. Switch to a healthy
diet rich in fruits and vegetables and begin using the
Sunlight Protection and Good Health Kit called the Super
Food Trio.
After you’ve been using the Super Food Trio for a few
weeks and are building up your nutrient status, you may
want to slowly start building up your “sun time”. First,
begin by sitting outside in shade, such as on a porch, for
5 or 10 minutes, without direct exposure to the sun. You
will still get the beneficial radiation of the sun but without
direct sun exposure. (Sitting behind glass or metal screens
will not work.) Gradually build up to an hour outside
daily. Some experts claim at least one hour of unfiltered
sunlight per day is essential to health, although indirect
sun is fine.
Reference: Kime, Zane, MD, Sunlight, World Health Publications,
1980.
Rev. 8/21/06
SANTA MONICA, ca 90403