When God created the sun, He called it good. In recent years we have been told that God was wrong. Doctors—and hence parents, especially mothers—have been insisting that we dare not venture out into the sunshine without the protection of clothing and/or lavishly applied sunscreen. Living in Florida, I have a highly-developed sense of respect for the power of the sun's rays, and certainly do my share in supporting the sunscreen industry. But I also remember my mother's insistence on the importance of sunshine on skin for making much-needed vitamin D. Thus it was heartening to read that evidence is mounting in favor of my mother (not to mention God).
Not that anyone is recommending we go back to the days of frying ourselves on the beaches. Our overuse of sunscreen, however, may actually be causing more cancer than it prevents. Vitamin D, it turns out, plays an important role in preventing and fighting certain cancers, particularly colon cancer—and even skin cancer itself. Not only are we not getting enough vitamin D in our diets, as a rule, but the supplemental vitamin D we do receive (in milk and vitamin supplements) is not as good as the vitamin D made through the collaboration of skin and sun.
So—heed my mother's warning: Respect the sun, limit your exposure, but never forget that fresh air, exercise, and sunshine provide some of life's best medicine. (Turn off the TV and go play outside!)
