Weekly Wellness Note #3 - Sunlight to Avoid Cancer

Great news for Flroida college students. Getting sun is a GOOD thing...as long as you're not getting burned.

Everyone knows about the link between sun burn and cancer, and that's definately still true. However, if you're going overboard on sunscreen or avoiding the sun completely, you're missing out on an EXTREMELY valuable promoter to your health.

Exposure to sunlight is a critical for your body's production of Vitamin D. As with many deficiencies, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with a laundry list of diseases, namely breast cancer, colon cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and EVEN skin cancer.

Of course it's important that I mention how important it is not to get burned. Sunscreen is also designed to block UV-B (Vitamin D uses UV-B) so sunscreen should be used sparringly unless you know you're going to be getting a lot of sun in the danger hours (10am-2pm). If you're worried about burning, try covering up.

Another key note: Vitamin D is a fat-soluable (read: you can have too much) so overdosing is possible. If you're getting enough sunlight, you don't really need the fortified products. If you're worried about it though, then get screened by an appropriate healthcare provider.

So soak up that bright healthy Florida sun UCF kids, just remember, no burning!


Be Well and Stay Adjusted,
Jonny