Vital Sunlight Exposure

The SUN!! We have probably heard it all of our lives….. “The sun causes cancer!” I would have to say, there are so many opinions/studies/etc. out there regarding the sun, and its dangers. While I don’t disagree that the sun’s rays, and radiation can be dangerous, the sun is absolutely necessary for the natural processes within our bodies. Just think about it, how necessary is sunlight for everything here on Earth? Could anyone really say, that we do not need sunlight? That sunlight is dangerous to us? Put sunscreen on every time you are going to be out in the sunlight for an extended period of time? What is sunscreen/sunblock? Is this stuff that we put on our skin to protect us from the sun, doing us more harm, than soaking up a few extra rays?

Well, I don’t believe I have all the answers to these questions, but I do have an opinion of my own based on experience, and a good amount of research. From what I know about vitamin D (some call vitamin D a hormone), it is essential for healthy teeth, nails, and bones. Vitamin D works in conjunction with other vitamins to carry out its duties. This “hormonal conversation” that I talk about so much in my posts/newsletters, relies very heavily on vitamin D for efficient communication. A lot of the very diseases that I talk about preventing by adopting a Wild and Primal lifestyle, have also been shown to be impacted/prevented by sufficient vitamin D obtained from sunlight. Of course again, it is not the magic bullet…. Quality vitamin D, combined with a Wild and Primal lifestyle, can really take off and do its job!

Recent research is suggesting that the p53 gene, is very closely related to vitamin D (hormone conversation again). The p53 gene is responsible for controlling cell division, and cell death. Changes (mutations) in the expression of the p53 gene can be a factor in cancer cells growing/spreading. Vitamin D, and the p53 gene, work together to protect the body against tumor growth (cancer) by defending against oxidative damage.

Thousands of years ago, you know we were getting out in the sunlight! We had large surface areas of our skin exposed, soaking up the sun. I’m sure it did not take very long for our early ancestors to realize that if they stayed out in the sun too long, they would end up receiving a not so comfortable sun burn. I would believe the common sense approach to this would be to stay in a shaded spot if you feel your skin getting too heated, cover your skin with some type of clothing, or wait until the “high” sun changes its angle (morning/evening). What ever the solution, you know we were not spreading sunscreen (chemicals) all over our bodies to keep the sun’s rays off of us.

My approach is very straight forward. I try to make it a point to get out in the sunlight as much as possible. Not only get out in the sunlight, but with my shirt off, exposing large surface areas of skin to the sun. During the summer, if the sun is really cooking, I will put my shirt back on after I feel my skin getting pretty warm. I also like to wear a cap to help shield the rays from my face if it starts getting to warm. Try not to be directly in the sun when it is high intensity, and you feel that your skin (neck, face, arms, etc.) are starting to get burned. At no point in time though, do I put sunscreen on my skin to hide from the sunlight!!

I like to wear an Atomic-Solar watch. The “atomic” aspect of the watch, gets a radio signal each day that keeps the watch set to the correct time. The “solar” aspect of the watch, helps to keep me outside getting sunlight. The majority of the charging comes from direct sunlight. My watch has a high, medium, low indicator showing the charge of the battery. I like to keep my battery charged to high, but at times it might drop down to medium, or even low in the winter time. I use my solar watch to help give me reminders to get out in the sun. During the summer, I have no problems soaking up a lot of sunlight. As the time of year gets into winter though, I do tend to not get out as much as during the Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Getting vitamin D during the winter, is not as easy to get, compared to during the warmer months. The sunlight is at a different angle than the warmer months, so our skin has a harder time soaking up good quality sun rays. Also, we tend to wear more clothing during the cooler months, so the surface area of our skin is covered up. Again, my Solar watch helps keep me out in the sun during the cooler months as well. On warmer fall/winter days, I will make it a point to get outside in short sleeves (maybe even with my shirt off), and split/haul some wood, or something.

In my Wild and Primal world, I do not fear the sun, but I do respect its power. I try to get out in it as much as possible, without getting burned. I like to keep my skin nice and brown in the summer time. When fall and winter come calling, I still try to get out and soak up the sun in short sleeves/no shirt when I can. Get something to help give you a constant reason to get outside, like a Solar Watch.

Start putting the pieces together….

• Wild and Primal diet
• Removing chemical/toxin use
• Find some good quality herbs to supplement your nutrient/antioxidant intake
• Learn how to become a fat burner, instead of a carb. burner
• Learn how to make great tasting/healthy, Wild and Primal sauces/seasonings, or where to buy them if that’s your go to
• Subscribe to my newsletter if you haven’t already to receive great lifestyle tips, directly to your inbox

Good luck on your journey to improve your health and happiness!!

Keep it Wild and Primal!!!