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The Benefits: Vitamin D
Getting safe sun exposure every day is actually one of the best things you can do for your health, because it allows your body to naturally produce its own supply of Vitamin D. And why, you might ask, is this so important? One of our past newsletters touted the benefits of D, reporting that "The main role of Vitamin D is to regulate the amounts of calcium and phosphorus circulating in the blood. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, which helps to form and maintain strong bones. Research also suggests that Vitamin D may provide protection from osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and several types of cancers and autoimmune diseases, as well as greatly aiding in proper childhood development". These are all great things and worthy reasons for a little sun time.
The "K" Factor
On a side note, we also mentioned in this past newsletter, that just because we're producing or getting Vitamin D from other sources, doesn't guarantee that it's being deposited in the right places (such as your bones). Most of the calcium you ingest each day never gets anywhere near your bones. Instead, it is excreted or deposited in soft tissue. This is why in our office, we never recommend Vitamin D without Vitamin K. K's job is to put calcium in the right places and keep it from being deposited in the wrong ones. Vitamin K plays a critical role in preventing arterial calcification, which is a risk factor in coronary artery disease, as well as other calcification conditions.
The main point here is that, as you're spending time in the sun and your body is producing more Vitamin D, it's critical you're also providing it with the other nutrients it needs to use the D efficiently and safely. See below for special offers on Vitamin K, from our office. Recent studies have also shown that the more sun exposure, you get, the less Vitamin D is actually absorbed, so be sure to continue taking any D supplements you've been prescribed!
The Risks and The Shocker 
It's no secret that if you spend time outdoors with little or no sun protection, there will likely be consequences. It could be skin cancer, or it could just be sunburn, but regardless, we should all be looking into protection options. What most people don't realize, however, is that some sunscreens themselves can be toxic, harmful, and even increase risk of skin cancer.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) recently performed an enlightening study, covered by Yahoo Shine (5/24/11), Time Magazine (5/24/11), and Dr. Joseph Mercola. Mercola recaps on his blog:
If you go to your local drugstore and pick up a sunscreen for yourself and your family, there's a good chance that it will contain toxic chemicals that the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) 2011 Sunscreen Guide recommends completely avoiding.This is true whether you choose a product with a high SPF or even for some of those that claim to be "natural." In fact, EWG recommends just 1 in 5 of more than 600 beach and sport sunscreens rated. Unfortunately, many Americans will be unknowingly bathing their bodies in toxic and ineffective sunscreen lotions when they head outdoors this summer...
But you don't have to be one of them! EWG listed four sunscreen "red flags" to look for when shopping, such as:
- Sunscreen containing Oxybenzone (an endocrine-disrupting chemical, which is especially concerning for young children whose elimination processes aren't as well developed)
- Sunscreen containing Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) - this form of Vitamin A was shown to speed the development of skin tumors and lesions
- Inadequate UVA Protection. UVB rays produce Vitamin D...UVAs cause skin damage much more rapidly. 60% of the products the EWG reviewed had UVA protection so inadequate they wouldn't even be allowed on the European market.
- Too High SPF and Spray-Form Sunscreens. 50+ SPFs can give people false security and cause them to stay in the sun longer, and spray versions may release toxic particles into the air.
Most importantly though, after the analysis was complete, EWG concluded:
"The best sunscreen is a hat and a shirt. No chemicals to absorb through the skin, no questions about whether they work."
I agree entirely! I have always told patients that the best way to protect yourself from the sun is actually not a sunscreen at all, it's wearing clothing or getting into the shade. This is precisely because, as EWG's findings support, most sunscreens are loaded with toxic chemicals that can actually accelerate skin cancer, or get into your bloodstream where they can disrupt your hormones. One last natural solution which may help protect against sunburn: eating a diet filled with antioxidant rich, organic and unprocessed foods!
The moral of the story: enjoy the sun this summer, but do it safely, and be informed about your protection options!
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