After fearing the sun for decades, listening to the dire warnings of dermatologists and slathering on sunscreen to protect against skin cancer, it turns out we are getting too little sun. Apparently the majority of American women are deficient in vitamin D-3 - the form that is derived from sunlight's interaction with bare skin.
Two recent studies suggest that women who get lots of vitamin D are less likely to develop breast cancer. This adds to the already strong, mounting evidence that the "sunshine vitamin" helps prevent many types of cancer, as well as improves survival rates among those already afflicted. What's more, vitamin D may also lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
In one study, high levels of vitamin D translated to a 50 percent lower risk of breast cancer. Even modestly higher levels resulted in 10 percent less risk. A second study, this one by Canadian researchers, found that women who spent time outdoors, especially in their teen years, were 25 to 45 percent less likely to develop breast cancer than women with less of the vitamin. Only 24 percent of women in the Canadian study had sufficient blood levels of D at the time that their breast cancer was diagnosed. Those who were deficient were nearly twice as likely to have their cancer recur or spread over the next 10 years, and 73 percent more likely to die of the disease.
Most researchers agree that vitamin D from supplements or food is less effective at fighting disease than the kind produced in the skin as a result of the sun's ultraviolet rays. About 15 minutes of sunlight directly on skin several times per week is all it takes to give us the amount we need.
Is it possible that the majority of American women don't actually absorb 15 minutes worth of sunlight a day? Think of your routine. It's easy to shun sunlight, particularly in the dead of winter or the worst heat of summer, especially when we've been repeatedly instructed to stay out of the sun. Many aspects of our lifestyle - among them, automobiles, garages and indoor exercise equipment - help "protect" us from the rays.
But swallowing large amounts of vitamin D supplements would also be a serious mistake. High doses of it can cause nausea, vomiting and raise blood levels of calcium enough to cause mental confusion and heart rhythm abnormalities. Too much vitamin D can also lead to calcium deposits in the kidneys and other tissue.
We've been through this all before: Something is bad for us, and then it turns out, it's good for us - in moderation, that is. A little coffee improves circulation and heart health. Too much coffee disrupts your sleep and turns you into a hyperactive maniac. In moderate amounts, red wine guards against heart attacks, strokes and perhaps Alzheimer's. Too much wine rots your liver. A little dark chocolate lowers your blood pressure. Too much packs on the pounds.
Now we've got one more to add to the list. Too much sunshine gives you skin cancer. Too little and you're flirting with breast cancer. (Men, you also need vitamin D. Its link to the prevention of prostate cancer is likely and is being studied.)
The seeming contradictions in medical research do not concern me. When it all shakes out, my theory on life is always confirmed: "moderation in all things."
Yet I cannot hide my excitement about four developments. One, the heart-healthy benefits of red wine - now I can feel good about my daily glass with dinner each evening. Two, "sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy," to quote a John Denver song. Three, dark chocolate - it's role in happiness can never be exaggerated. And four, I always down two mugs of coffee in the morning and now don't have to feel guilty about that either.
Actually, I had already given up on the guilt thing. I'm for moderation in all things, even in that department. I have decided, for the most part, what passes for "guilt" is a useless, self-defeating reaction. So when I feel that free-floating discomfort I recognize as "guilt," I ask myself why. If it's because I hurt someone, then my inner voice is telling me to go set it right. If the feeling arises over trivial things like eating a hot dog or lingering at the lake instead of working, I say, "Get thee behind me, Guilt."
At any rate, stop feeling guilty about the sun. Go out and get your 15 minutes today. It could save your life.
Comments
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George_Braziller (anonymous) says…
Everything in moderation. I spent WAY too much time in the sun when I was growing up and as a young invincible adult, but being 46 and an avid gardener I still crave it. Now I actually wear a hat and don't wait until I'm beet red before I go inside.But when winter comes --- call me when it's spring 'cause I'm going to be in hibernation until the sun comes out again.
Anakim (anonymous) says…
This makes sense to me. Now I can have a coffee outside and enjoy it.
xbusguy (chris Ogle) says…
a little bit of anything is OK, too much of anything is not. why do I keep forgetting that? maybe too much sun...
merrill (anonymous) says…
15 minutes is one thing....several hours is entirely another. Some folks cannot get enough sun and others vary widely.Wearing long sleeves on sunny warm days is not a bad idea for protecting the skin against the hot sun and mosquitos. The mideast brothers and sisters wear lots of coverage.I choose long sleeves over sun lotion and bug chemicals to ward off mosquitos . When it's hot it's hot. Long sleeves,short sleeves or naked it is hot and the sweat comes no matter what.
supercowbellninja (anonymous) says…
Woah, slow down there maestro - you're saying moderation is a GOOD thing? Thank goodness I rely on self-centered local columnists for all my medical advice - I was all ready to spend my day outside eating 8 pounds of chocolate in broad daylight washing it down a 44 oz. big gulp of coffee and consuming an entire bottle of wine for lunch. I'd also suggest that when spewing medical advice we all read about months ago when these vague studies you reference were originally published and reported on nationally, you also refrain from using sentences like this in your writing:"The seeming contradictions in medical research do not concern me. "Kind of invalidates and and all your points, doesn't it?
sallywoll (anonymous) says…
Good grief, what a nasty commenter. I agree that the article was pretty simple and made conclusions we all arrived at some time ago, but I don't see any reason to be so condescending and nasty, supercowbellninja. Ms. Black, you are a lovely writer. I hope to see you develop your topics more in the future; I have a feeling you have a lot more to say than you are letting on.
supercowbellninja (anonymous) says…
ok, maybe it was a little condescending, but I still don't like the article. In fact, I find the way Ms. Black writes to be quite condescending in tone - such as her piece a few weeks ago about how midwestern kids are inherently better than those from the northeast. Let's also not forget her gem shortly after the basketball title where she lamented no one attending her book signing.This is just another in a pattern of poorly informed chatter that she never thinks to support with actual sources. Today's column was based on "two recent studies".Well, which ones? Perhaps a well-place call to a local dermatologist might have helped boost her cred here a little, too?Who knows - maybe I am asking too much.
sallywoll (anonymous) says…
I agree with you on some of what you say, supercow, and think Ms. Black could definitely benefit from some constructive criticism from readers like yourself. Constructive being the key word.
Anakim (anonymous) says…
I think sallywoll nailed it correctly in her comments about the supercow... but by now we have learned to expect ad hominem mooing from some who find it easier to criticize than actually write something themselves. I thing the studies were just a springboard to speak about moderation in a nice way. Like sallywoll, I too enjoyed it. A short local column is not the place for detailed health and medicine report. But some people can never be satisfied. Too much, too little, too broad, too narrow...
supercowbellninja (anonymous) says…
lordy - I am not looking for detailed medical advice in a Pulse column. Please give me some credit...All I'm saying is Ms. Black constantly takes the easy way out. In this instance, I am not looking for detailed citations like it's a medical journal, but something to the effect of " According to medical studies published by researchers at the University of Kansas in May..." , for example. If all we're going to get is broad generalizations that refer to "recent" studies, then why stop there? I hope the next column starts with more vague sourcing from a writer who I think projects a sense of elitism throughout her writing, which is hardly appealing.We deserve better than this in a local column.
consumer1 (anonymous) says…
Run and hide, the "super intellectual grammar police" are out in force. Isn't it great to live in a city where everyone knows everything except you? Oh yeah! this is home of the far left who wants to tell everyone what they should be:a) Thinkingb) sayingc) doingd) spending their money one) what kinds of food they should eat, f) how to build their houses, g) what art is (see F-art inthe P-ark)h) What building is historical i) And last but certainly not least they want to force everyone to, Dump money into a ineffective school system
supercowbellninja (anonymous) says…
uhhhh....what?I just want a local columnist to read that's actually enjoyable, not pompous and lazy in his or her sourcing.But by all means, let's use this as a jumping off point for other crazy tirades. I'll add one:k) Local columnists who over-write and make broad, misinformed generalizations but are beloved by a handful of local readers who don't know any better because they've never thought to expect better.
Anakim (anonymous) says…
The big bovine aka supercowbellninja should learn what we all know.... readers use a brief column as a short invitation to do further in-depth checking on the net. The purpose of the column seems not to write a medical advise column but to use well-reported health news as a springboard to write a fun column about moderation and an easy-going personal outlook on life. Actually, you might learn something about that outlook, a little moderation and learning to get past personal fears and insecurities by refraining from constantly cutting up other people so consistently. Your track record of more than 4 dozen recent comments on all sorts of columnists speaks of a cow in need of a greener pasture. Give it a rest. Or a better idea, offer any newspaper in the land the valuable fruits of your viewpoint. Then we can see what you can write in about a dozen paragraphs.
supercowbellninja (anonymous) says…
ugh - you people are hopeless. Enjoy your Grade D-quality columnist schlock. I'll be spending my time reading something that's actually enjoyable and fulfilling from now on, which I'm sure thrills all you homers to no end. Good riddance, and whatever you do, nod approvingly and ask for more of whatever drivel Ms. Black scribbles next.
Anakim (anonymous) says…
We would all benefit if the large cow would do as promised above, ring the bell elsewhere for a while, and spare us the continual cud. Thank you, or should we say thank moo.
supercowbellninja (anonymous) says…
Oh come on - this is too funny:Anakim, you are such a hypocrite - saying I need to get a life for commenting on Ms. Black's column threads so regularly. Well, guess what? That's ALL you have commented on since you joined more than a year ago!If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were Ms. Black herself or at least a close family member or friend coming to her aid. Seems a little sketchy that these are the only threads we see you pop up on....Methinks I might be on to something after all since by looking at your archive of remarks, you have spent a great deal of time defending Ms. Black against the likes of me and many others who've said similar things. It's always nice to see that you're not the only one who thinks something needs improvement.
Anakim (anonymous) says…
Not a few of us, it seems, are like-minded. I have spent a lot of time avoiding newspaper blogs unlike like someone here. Frankly, you and a few like you are the main reason I have been moved to comment--your simple nastiness which others have noted calls for response. Do us all a favor and try being constructive or silent.... as you promised.
supercowbellninja (anonymous) says…
you're right - things like requesting better sourcing and tighter writing are just so unconstructive.From now on, I'll try padding the bad with some positives.While Ms. Black shows an impressive knack for writing long-winded columns that focus primarily on herself and rarely other people's experiences in the community she is writing for, she still finds time to conjugate her verbs properly. Well done!Still, I think there is room for improvement as it would be nice to see more than a first-person perspective in a column that alleges to cater to Lawrence at large. Perhaps the use of a phone and a copy of the Yellow Pages would be in order?I also like how her tag at the end refers vaguely to some small Kansas town she once lived in. Without naming it, she is more accessible to the small-town folk she writes for. And we know she must be good since she moved all the way back here from "Chicago and then on the East Coast for more than 30 years."
Anakim (anonymous) says…
I think it best for all of us to just ignore some of these remarks. Obviously someone has nothing better to do at 9:30 PM than pen these long, whining complaints crying out for attention. Must be a lonely world. I say: get a life, and if you can't, you may discover that the surest way to make an impact is to convince people that you should be ignored. I will. I dare say others will as well... now go ahead and give us the last word.... pardon some of us if we do not reply.... the floor is yours--even if the audience has left.
supercowbellninja (anonymous) says…
Great! Thanks! I'd like to thank the academy, and God, and the long-winded, self-important columnist who has made this all possible.If you would like to invalidate my remarks based on the time at which they were posted, well I can't stop you. I had no idea timestamps were indicative of quality and lack of other interests. I have learned so much from this pointless debate.In closing, I ask that all who read Ms. Black enjoy it for what it is, but by no means settle - ask for more and expect more from your local newspaper's voices. They are there to represent you, not wax on poetically in the first person about book signings, hasty generalizations on the quality of children based on where they were raised and so on.There are better columns out there - look at Joe Posnanski's features on some of the smaller sports nooks in Kansas City or any of Erma Bombeck's classic pieces. Eileen Roddy has stopped writing about tea all the time and has found a decent voice to write about the people and events throughout Lawrence. I think Ms. Black has the ability to rise to the occasion, but so far, just haven't seen much beyond hastily sourced, meandering epics that rarely stray from the first person perspective.Stay classy, Lawrence!