All life on earth owes its existence to sunlight yet we are told to avoid it
Should we really be hiding from the sun, or is the sun is one of our greatest allies in health?
I explored the research on sun exposure, here is what you need to know👇🧵
Should we really be hiding from the sun, or is the sun is one of our greatest allies in health?
I explored the research on sun exposure, here is what you need to know👇🧵
When most people think of the health benefits of sunlight, they think of Vitamin D
Yet the vast majority of sunlight's benefits are not due to Vitamin D, but instead due to the complex way light manages circadian biology - our bodies responses to light and dark cycles
Yet the vast majority of sunlight's benefits are not due to Vitamin D, but instead due to the complex way light manages circadian biology - our bodies responses to light and dark cycles
It may shock you to learn almost all life on Earth has a circadian rhythm, including cellular organisms
In fact Melatonin, one key part of this process, is so important to biological life it is used by almost all life for billions of years without any alterations
In fact Melatonin, one key part of this process, is so important to biological life it is used by almost all life for billions of years without any alterations
For evolution to conserve a molecule for such a staggering length of time, and for it to be used in practically all life reveals the overwhelming importance of circadian biology
All life on Earth uses sunlight and darkness to govern their biological process
All life on Earth uses sunlight and darkness to govern their biological process
Yet, most people today fear the sun
Why?
It is due almost solely to concerns around UV radiation and its ability to damage human skin
However, the UV story is far more complex than this simple message suggests
Why?
It is due almost solely to concerns around UV radiation and its ability to damage human skin
However, the UV story is far more complex than this simple message suggests
UV radiation conveys a host of benefits, some deeply critical to health, alongside its ability to damage skin
While it is true UV radiation can damage your skin, it is also true that breathing oxygen can damage your body, or that digesting food shortens your lifespan
While it is true UV radiation can damage your skin, it is also true that breathing oxygen can damage your body, or that digesting food shortens your lifespan
The simple truth of biology is that any function which harnesses *energy* comes with costs
When a car engine burns gasoline it also damages the system, yet the point of a car is to burn gasoline!
All energy utilizing processes come with certain costs
When a car engine burns gasoline it also damages the system, yet the point of a car is to burn gasoline!
All energy utilizing processes come with certain costs
The good news is your body has many mechanisms to mitigate and protect itself from UV damage
When Infrared light strikes the skin (early morning) it reduces damage from UV later in the day!
The extent to which UV can damage skin is highly influenced by your habits
When Infrared light strikes the skin (early morning) it reduces damage from UV later in the day!
The extent to which UV can damage skin is highly influenced by your habits
A UK Biobank study of 377,000 light skinned Europeans found the further south they moved, the longer they lived!
Many other studies have shown the same dynamic, the more sun exposure people got the lower the chance they died from any cause
sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
Many other studies have shown the same dynamic, the more sun exposure people got the lower the chance they died from any cause
sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
Further, research has shown consistent sun exposure (regularly getting sun) is much safer, and may even reduce risk of certain skin cancers, while intermittent sun exposure (getting sun exposure sporadically) notably increases risk of skin cancers
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1561794/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1561794/
But what about Vitamin D supplementation? Can you just pop a pill?
No, the two largest studies on Vitamin D supplements both demonstrated no benefits in terms of cardiovascular disease, cancer or various other endpoints
vitalstudy.org
No, the two largest studies on Vitamin D supplements both demonstrated no benefits in terms of cardiovascular disease, cancer or various other endpoints
vitalstudy.org
So what are the benefits of sunlight? Let's explore some areas you may not be aware of
The first is your genes themselves!
Up to 50% of all protein encoding genes are circadian dependent
And 20% of *ALL* genes are circadian dependent
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…
The first is your genes themselves!
Up to 50% of all protein encoding genes are circadian dependent
And 20% of *ALL* genes are circadian dependent
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…
This means your light environment can turn them on or off, in the same way scientists at MIT are doing with a laser based device!
Light activates and inactivates your very genes themselves!
.news.mit.edu/2013/controlli…
Light activates and inactivates your very genes themselves!
.news.mit.edu/2013/controlli…
Other diseases like Multiple Sclerosis are heavily dependent on how much UV light someone receives
Rates are extremely low near the equator and higher as you head towards the poles
Given that equatorial countries are poorer, and northern countries richer- this is striking!
Rates are extremely low near the equator and higher as you head towards the poles
Given that equatorial countries are poorer, and northern countries richer- this is striking!
Type 2 Diabetes has increasingly been shown to be a circadian dependent disease
People who lived in areas with the most outdoor artificial light had 28% higher chances of T2D
The bodies insulin response is highly light dependent
mayoclinic.org/medical-profes…
People who lived in areas with the most outdoor artificial light had 28% higher chances of T2D
The bodies insulin response is highly light dependent
mayoclinic.org/medical-profes…
Lack of sunlight has been estimated to be responsible for hundreds of thousands of excess deaths per year in America
Some researchers estimate as high as 12.8% of all deaths may be due to insufficient sunlight exposure over a lifetime
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…
Some researchers estimate as high as 12.8% of all deaths may be due to insufficient sunlight exposure over a lifetime
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…
Sunlight avoidance has been shown to result in a more than 100% increase in the risk of Dementia/Allzheimers
And sunlight is a key factor in the development of mental health disorders of all kinds (ADD, BPD, Bipolar, etc)
nature.com/articles/s4139…
And sunlight is a key factor in the development of mental health disorders of all kinds (ADD, BPD, Bipolar, etc)
nature.com/articles/s4139…
The highest sun exposed groups had massively lower risks of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, glandular cancers, pancreatic cancers and the *lowest* sun exposed groups had hugely increased risks of these cancers
sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
Ultimately we must compare all of the benefits of sun exposure to its costs
And when we do so, it appears clear that the total burden of disease that sunlight prevents is materially larger than that which it causes
And when we do so, it appears clear that the total burden of disease that sunlight prevents is materially larger than that which it causes
The true benefits of sun exposure go far beyond what I have described in this thread, as well as the arguments against fear of UV
To explore these in greater detail, and to read my guide for what to practically do about all of this 👇
swanbitcoin.com/the-sunshine-m…
To explore these in greater detail, and to read my guide for what to practically do about all of this 👇
swanbitcoin.com/the-sunshine-m…
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