I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors in the spring and summer. There’s something about the bright sunshine that just makes me happier. Every year, I feel better in April and May, and worse in September through November. But I’ve always wondered: am I putting myself at risk by being outdoors so much?
According to an article in today’s Globe and Mail, I’ve been doing it right all along: being outdoors in the summer sun is, apparently, a very effective way to fend off all kinds of cancers. It’s effective because sunshine causes the body to generate vitamin D – and, if this article is to be believed, regular doses of this vitamin have more of an effect on reducing cancer incidence than stopping smoking does.
The article also points out that a shortage of vitamin D leads to an increase in multiple sclerosis, juvenile diabetes, influenza, osteoporosis and bone fractures among the elderly.
For years, Canadian health officials have recommended staying out of the sun to minimize the risk of skin cancer. But, if these studies are to be believed, this is a poor tradeoff: skin cancers are usually easily treatable and are virtually never fatal (which I know from personal experience), while cancers whose occurrence can be reduced by vitamin D are much more deadly.
Posted by davetill 