I recently read an article in a Sunday magazine interviewing the beautiful Aussie actress, Cate Blanchett about her views for preserving and maintaining beautiful skin. There is no doubt the journalist’s choice in Cate Blanchett as a spokeswoman and icon for beautiful healthy skin was aptly chosen, however whilst her flawless complexion is undeniably a combination of blessed genetics, healthy diet and a scrupulous skin care regime (she is the face of skin care brand SKII after all), I was disturbed by the journalists extreme and unbalanced portrayal of the dangers surrounding sun expsoure – choosing fear based quotes such as ‘sun exposure makes you look old and leathery’ and ‘we would all be a lot ‘safer if we stayed away from the sun’.
There’s no denying excess sun exposure can cause serious skin damage and premature ageing, as well as increase the risk for developing skin cancer and melanoma, however there is another epidemic at hand that is affecting our health on a far greater scale – primarily because the scales have been tipped too far in one direction.
I’m talking about the world wide vitamin D deficiency epidemic.
In Australia, our main source of vitamin D3 comes from sunlight exposure, but despite living in a sunburnt country, vitamin D3 deficiency is the underlying cause of a multitude of serious health problems and diseases. More and more Australians, Americans and Europeans are not receiving adequate vitamin D from casual daily sun exposure.
A combination of factors, including our work habits – over use of sun block, working longer hours indoors, travelling to and from work in low to zero sunlight, exercising at indoor gyms, eating at indoor food halls, even swopping the simple task of hanging the clothes on the outdoor clothes line has been substituted for the dryer.
Even more alarming is that this epidemic is now affecting our children, evidenced by a resurgence of the once rare condition – rickets (soft bones). The explanation? Embracing the sun safe message to the extreme, and the same can be said for adults. Using a sunscreen with an SPF of just 8, is estimated to reduce the skin’s production of Vitamin D by 95%.
Vitamin D deficiency in children increases their risk for developing MS – Multiple Sclerosis and type 1 diabetes later in life, as well as obtaining their genetically programmed peak height and increasing tooth decay.
It is arguable those behind the sun safe advertising campaigns have been so successful in getting their message across, that many of us are now so sun phobic we don’t dare let our children, or ourselves venture outside without lathering up in sun block and clothing from head to toe. Until very recently, the Australian ‘Slip Slop Slap’ campaign recommend we should never be exposed to direct sunlight without clothing a hat and sunscreen.
The human body actually needs direct daily exposure to sunlight to stay healthy.
By depriving it of daily exposure to natural sunlight, we are inducing a whole new set of health problems and disease as a result.
I’m talking about common cancers, CVD – cardio vascular disease, thyroid and autro immune disease, obesity and even infectious diseases. just to name a few. Vitamin D deficiency in adults has also been linked to many neurological conditions, including depression and anxiety, dementia and Alzheimer’s. Vitamin D deficiency will also both precipitate and exacerbate osteoporosis and increased risk of hip fracture in older adults. So as mentioned in last week’s post on cow’s milk, those of you turning to your daily glass of cow’s milk and cheese as a means for maintaining healthy calcium levels and prevent osteoporosis, you are better off addressing your vitamin D needs and using alternative dietary sources of calcium that don’t carry the added risk of cardiovascular disease and inflammatory conditions such as food intolerances and IBS.
Because vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that cannot be manufactured by the body and is virtually nonexistent in our diet,
The only way to guarantee your vitamin D needs are being met is through:
1. Sensible sun exposure – between 10 am – 3pm, 5- 10 minutes in summer or before burning occurs and up to 45 minutes per day in winter without sun block and exposing your arms legs or abdomen.
2. Taking a vitamin D supplement – ideally liquid form for maximum bioavailability Children should be supplemented with 1000- 2000IU per day and Adults range from 4000IU up to 15,000IU per day with certain conditions including auto immune diseases and obesity.
When choosing a sunscreen I recommend one preferably free from dioxins and with a high percentage of zinc oxide such as Grahams sunscreen, as pictured and available at health food stores.
So whilst we should be careful to avoid exposing our skin to excessive amounts of sun during the peak times, we also need to ensure we dont take the message of slip slop slap to the extreme and avoid ALL sun exposure or risk being victim to a growing list of diseases with strong links to vitamin D deficiency.
As a nutritionist I have tested thousands of patients blood vitamin D levels and at least 80% have not fallen within the desirable target range, justifying the need for daily supplementation. So do your health a favour and take a test for vitamin D today and reduce your risk for developing the 4 common diseases – Cancer, Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.
Next week I am going to talk about one of the most inflammatory causing foods you can eat and its links to a list of common health conditions. Who knows, maybe through replacing this food with a healthier alternative, it may be enough to put an end to that daily fatigue.
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Some really excellent articles on this internet site , thanks for contribution.
Some really excellent articles on this internet site , thanks for contribution.
Christina, yours is a truly inspiring and amazing story of determination and persistence to find answers to your experience with infertility, I would love my readers to hear your story one day if you’re willing! And yes, it frustrates me endlessly that Dr’s are not making vitamin D testing mandatory for women with fertility issues, in fact they should be testing everyone for that matter, as I find 80% or more of patients are not hitting the target range for vitamin D, which is very different than the standard pathology range – if only they would get up to speed with the latest research findings! I hope your two precious bubs are thriving! x
Christina, yours is a truly inspiring and amazing story of determination and persistence to find answers to your experience with infertility, I would love my readers to hear your story one day if you’re willing! And yes, it frustrates me endlessly that Dr’s are not making vitamin D testing mandatory for women with fertility issues, in fact they should be testing everyone for that matter, as I find 80% or more of patients are not hitting the target range for vitamin D, which is very different than the standard pathology range – if only they would get up to speed with the latest research findings! I hope your two precious bubs are thriving! x
Hi Matt, theres no doubt using sunscreen to protect your skin when out doors for extended periods is a very wise idea, just be sure to A. get some sun exposure EVERY day without sunblock for a period of time to get your daily dose of vitamin D – how long will depend on your complexion, your age and the time of day and B. as mentioned in my post, when using sun screen choose one that is free from dioxins
Hi Matt, theres no doubt using sunscreen to protect your skin when out doors for extended periods is a very wise idea, just be sure to A. get some sun exposure EVERY day without sunblock for a period of time to get your daily dose of vitamin D – how long will depend on your complexion, your age and the time of day and B. as mentioned in my post, when using sun screen choose one that is free from dioxins
I am with you all the way Sal. As you know my Vitamin D levels were very low when you tested me and I think it was a major factor in my infertility. It was only after I increased my Vitamin D intake significantly that I was able to get pregnant. the joys of having an indoors office job with no time to go outside for lunch x
I am with you all the way Sal. As you know my Vitamin D levels were very low when you tested me and I think it was a major factor in my infertility. It was only after I increased my Vitamin D intake significantly that I was able to get pregnant. the joys of having an indoors office job with no time to go outside for lunch x
Wow Sally,
I have been told by two Doctors now over a 2 year period, that I have low Vit D and was even prescribed Vit D caps by one Dr. Since taking Vit D and building my levels back up I am feeling better with more energy. I was totally surprised as I have always been a sensible sun lover and have olive skin but this was not obviously not enough. Thanks for a great informative article. Julie
Wow Sally,
I have been told by two Doctors now over a 2 year period, that I have low Vit D and was even prescribed Vit D caps by one Dr. Since taking Vit D and building my levels back up I am feeling better with more energy. I was totally surprised as I have always been a sensible sun lover and have olive skin but this was not obviously not enough. Thanks for a great informative article. Julie
Nice one Sal. Another key learning with sun exposure is that our body will tell us when we have had enough sun. How so? You know, when you get itchy, tetchy and want to sit in the shade. So, slapping on that sunscreen to prolong your exposure in the sun is actually overriding the bodys’ innate ability to say “enough already”!