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Have We Been Scared Out of the Sun?☀️
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Have We Been Scared Out of the Sun?☀️
For decades we’ve been told to fear the sun.☀️
Cover up. Stay inside. Slather on sunscreen. Avoid exposure.
But what if that advice missed something huge?
I loved the Diary of a CEO interview with Dr. Roger Seheult, where he spoke about a major Swedish study that followed nearly 30,000 women for around 20 years. The women with the highest sun exposure had significantly lower mortality from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and all causes combined.
Dermatologist Dr. Richard Weller has found similar patterns in large UK data. His work found that higher UV exposure was linked with lower deaths from cardiovascular disease and cancer.
That is not a small detail.
Dr. Weller’s article, “Sunlight: Time for a Rethink?”, argues that sunlight has benefits beyond vitamin D, including effects on nitric oxide, blood pressure, cardiovascular health, and whole-body function.
Hospitals used to have solariums. Patients were wheeled outside for fresh air and sunshine. Somewhere along the way, we turned one of the most basic human needs into something to fear.
I know we have had similar discussions before, but I love reminders that sunlight is a simple, free health hack.
Links to interview and studies in the comments.
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7 Replies
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Links discussed:
Dr. Weller’s study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38661623/
The Swedish Study https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/lup/publication/c0300b35-18cc-4e3a-b294-7cee5077373a?
Diary of a CEO interview https://youtu.be/wQJlGHVmdrA?is=cBDFNLRcrek6016S
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Excellent reminder — thanks! I agree 100%. I get out in the sun as often and as much as I can. I never wear sunscreen and I also avoid sunglasses.
If you just stop to think about it, slathering toxic chemicals all over our skin defies common sense and is only asking for trouble. But doctors, esp dermatologists, routinely recommend it as knee-jerk advice they give to all patients, that includes avoiding sun altogether. That’s only one of too many reasons to count that I have no use for corporate medicine.
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👍 The sun is just waiting patiently for all of us to go get out into it. As Helen noted, it really is a free health hack.
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Interesting perspective—sunlight definitely plays a role in vitamin D production and circadian rhythm, and it’s good to see research exploring broader health links.
At the same time, I think it’s also important to balance that with what we know about UV exposure risks and skin cancer prevention, so context and moderation matter a lot.
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What do you think we know? Fact is that “skin cancer” that forms from UV is basal type which is non-malignant. Melanoma usually grows in areas that never get sun.
Of course burning is never good so people have to be mindful of time in sun.
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It goes way beyond vitamin D, to melanocortin receptors in the eye. When you stop wearing sunglasses your skin stops burning, did you know that? Try it. It totally works (within reason of course.) There is a fair amount of research on the circadian rhythm and other effects of the sun and the huge amount of health problem caused by not getting enough. It needs to go more mainstream.
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I agree, I was listening to a podcast today with two functional doctors and sunshine was their top tip for a number of conditions.
I did not know that about sunglasses, I did stop wearing them years ago. Will have a look at the research thank you @qofmiwok
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