Sunlight and Sunscreen: Good or Bad For You?

For years we’ve been told to avoid sunlight and slather on sunscreen. But a Southern Utah researcher, Dr. Marc Sorenson, recently published a book, “Embrace the Sun” that disputes the widely accepted views that sun exposure causes skin cancer; and that sunscreen protects you.

In fact, he credits sunlight as a health benefit, reducing the risk of breast cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, erectile dysfunction, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, depression obesity and other maladies.

I’ve kept in touch with Sorenson ever since he and his wife, Vicki, ran a fitness resort, the National Institute of Fitness in Ivins, Utah during the 1980s and early 1990s. They compiled an impressive track record for helping people get in shape and overcome health problems such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. NIF’s sensible approach included hiking in red rock canyons, exercise classes, hearty meals of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and daily seminars from Marc Sorenson, who has a doctorate from Brigham Young University in education with a health emphasis.

At the time, Marc Sorenson wondered if the Southern Utah sunshine played a role in enhancing his guests’ health. He began looking at worldwide research on the healthful effects of sunlight, which is needed to synthesize vitamin D in the body. That resulted a book, “Vitamin D3 and Solar Power To Enhance Health.”

Sorenson has taken his findings a step further with this new book that states many more health benefits of sunlight.

But this doesn’t mean that we should go back to shaking-and-baking all day in the sun (I’m old enough to remember the days of rubbing on baby oil and getting fried to a crisp. Not good.) Sorenson emphasizes “safe sun,” meaning — Never burn! Depending on your skin type, a few minutes a day of sun at the right time of day may be all you need to get its benefits.

Sorenson is also against using sunscreen. He writes that a meta-analysis of 20 studies showed that both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers were not protected by sunscreens. Also, he cites studies showing that daily fruit consumption reduces the risk of melanoma by nearly 50% and weekly meat consumption increases the risk of melanoma by 84%.

For sun protection, he wrote, “…we should do it the way God (or Mother Nature, if you prefer) intended it: Cover up with clothing when you start to redden, seek shade, or go indoors for awhile.”

Many of Sorenson’s statements ring true to me, because I feel a lot better when I’m able to get outdoors in the sun. And, I tend to lose weight in the summer. One of the times I feel best is after playing early-morning tennis at Mt. Ogden Park, as the sun is coming up over mountains. But, it’s hard for me to heed to advice against sunscreen. I play tennis, swim, hike, and do yard work, where I’m out in the sun for long periods. If I don’t wear a sunscreen, I definitely do burn. A wide-brimmed hat, shade or protective clothing aren’t great options for playing warm-weather tennis.

But some interesting research posted on sunlightinstitute.org  says that eating tomatoes helps protect against sunburn! “One investigation showed that among individuals who consumed forty grams of tomato paste daily for ten weeks, sunburn-resistance time increased by 40%,^[2] and other research demonstrated that eating different tomato-based products correlated to significantly reduced risk of sunburn after exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlamps.^[

So bring on the salsa and marinara sauce!

Thoughts, anyone? I’m interested in hearing what others think of this interesting premise.