Starting Tanning Naturally

Sunbathing in low level sunshine

This is for Southern Hemisphere readers. Maybe now (Spring) is a good time to begin starting tanning naturally and building your tolerance to sunshine?  On days when the sky is cloudless and blue with temperatures in the 10-15 degrees Celsius range it could be a good idea to bare all and begin building your sunshine tolerance.  You might be surprised that I suggest this but let’s look at some of the science.

If you read any research about the relationship of diseases with sunshine you will quickly discover that many autoimmune diseases, some common cancers and vitamin D deficiency diseases are more common the further away you live from the equator.  For example multiple sclerosis (MS) has one of the most obvious latitude gradients with it being highest in Northern Europe, Canada, New Zealand and Southern Australia.  Type-1 Diabetes is more prevalent in North America and Northern Europe, inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis are more common in northern climates.

Some cancer risk also seems to depend on your distance from the equator.  For example: colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostrate cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are all more common the further away you live from the equator.  It’s not just these either.  Hypertension, seasonal affective disorder, asthma and osteoporosis have the same pattern, although more pronounced in some diseases than others.

Is this from vitamin D, with reduced levels due to lower sun exposure as you get further from the equator?  If true, perhaps Vitamin D3 supplementation can help, but the level generated by sun exposure is thousands of time stronger than from supplements and it is already in the form that your body can use.  We know that skin tone became lighter as ancient peoples migrated out of Africa away from the equator and that some diseases have a greater impact on people with darker skin tone, so perhaps sunlight penetrating our skin is important.

In todays food climate there may be another factor.  People who have replaced industrial omega-6 polyunsaturated seed oils like canola, soy, corn, etc, with saturated and monounsaturated fats often claim that they can stay out in the sun for much longer without getting sunburned.  However it can take over 2 years to get polyunsaturated oils out of your cells. Sunscreens are a recent invention so for thousands of years we have been getting lots of sun on our skin, but only recently have we had big increases in sun damage and cancers. 

Thinking about skin cancers, some claim that Melanomas are a result of insufficient and infrequent sun exposure. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9920435/), (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2256710/). 

The other 2 skin cancers directly related to sun exposure  (Basel cell and Squamous) are not generally life threatening.  Building up your tan gently from these cooler but sunny days might be very healthy particularly when combined with healthy fats.

Get free nutrition guidance or my book at www.takebackyrhealth.com.  Seek professional medical advice before dietary changes, particularly if on medication.  George Elder, Diet Research Reviewer, Diploma in Nutrition.  The best thing you can do for your health is eat better.