Harnessing the Healing Power of the Sun
Science is finally embracing God's light
The Healing Power of the Sun
Most of us are aware that too much sun can cause cancer, premature aging, and damage to the eyes. But — many of us have no idea that too little sun can have damaging effects on the body as well. Failure to recognize the healing power of the sun can be detrimental to one's health.
According to the US National Library of Medicine's National Institute of Health (NIH), while "skin cancer is associated with too much UVR [sun] exposure, other cancers could result from too little." Even early stages of melanoma have shown improvement with increased sun exposure. In fact, studies show, "occupational exposure to sunlight actually reduced melanoma risk." One study linked the benefits of sunshine to a "50–77% reduction in expected incidence rates of all cancers combined over a four-year period in post-menopausal women living in Nebraska." [1]
But there is more. According to this same report, which relies on several professional studies, there are many diseases that can be aggravated by too little sunshine [2]:
Multiple Sclerosis
Type 1 and 2 Diabetes
Cardiovascular Diseases
Metabolic Disorders
Hypertension
Prostate Cancer
Colon Cancer
Rheumatoid Arthritis
IBS
Lupus
Osteoporosis
Rickets
Tuberculosis
Psoriasis and other skin conditions
And more
What is it about the healing power of the sun that is so important to human health?
The answer is vitamin D. While many vitamins and minerals must be supplied by our food, vitamin D has a different primary source: the sun. A fair skinned human body can create 50,000 IU of vitamin D in a 30-minute summer session of sunshine. For a tanned person, the same amount of exposure would create 20,000-30,000 IU. A dark skinned individual would benefit with about 8,000 IU. [3]
What does vitamin D do for the body?
Vitamin D is a hormone precursor that contributes to the maintenance of normal levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood.
It plays an important role in the maintenance of the skeletal structure.
The vitamin regulates the growth of skin cells.
It regulates more than 1000 different genes that affect every tissue in the body.
Vitamin D regulates calcium in the bones.
It supports "most metabolic functions, neuromuscular transmission, and bone mineralization.”
And finally, it strengthens muscles and bones.
Is there anything new under the sun?
Has science discovered something "new" about sunshine? Or has God known about the healing power of the sun from the beginning? As usual, we must go back to the Garden in order to see how God designed the human race.
Genesis 1:26-30 tells us:
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so.
God's original created order involved an outdoor lifestyle. The first man and woman did not even need clothes to survive in the perfect environment that God created for them in the Garden (and they certainly did not use sunscreen). Nowhere in the text does is say that God built them a house or dwelling place (apart from the Garden). After they sinned, God provided animal skins for clothing, but they were on their own to find shelter. God had commissioned them before the fall (and after) to subdue the earth and rule over the animals He had created. Outdoor activity was a large part of Adam and Eve's existence.
Trekking under the Sun
Solomon's Ecclesiastes uses the theme "under the sun" to describe man's life on this earth. For thousands of years women (and men) had to make regular treks to the well to gather water (no kitchen sink for them). They walked on foot or rode on the backs of animals for their transportation. They didn't have air conditioned cars, airplanes, or houses. In addition, agriculture was a large part of their economy. And there was no electricity for lights and washing machines. Most every activity took place outdoors "under the sun."
God has designed us to live, work, and enjoy His creation outdoors. We are designed to breathe fresh air, not the stagnant and often dirty air found inside our homes. And by design, we are made to enjoy a healthy moderate dose of sunlight exposure on a regular basis. Let's not despise this wonderful gift that God has given. Let's also remember to sift everything through the filter of God's Word. Science is always in discovery mode, constantly changing, and unreliable. The Bible is fixed eternally in heaven.
Absorbing the Healing Power of the Sun
The best time of day to gather vitamin D from the sun is when it is high enough in the sky to penetrate the atmosphere.
A moderate dose of sunshine should turn the skin pink (but not burn).
20,000 IU of vitamin D can be made in 20 minutes -- depending on your skin tone.
Sunscreen will prevent the body from creating vitamin D.
Other Sources of Vitamin D
While the healing power of the sun is the primary source of vitamin D, it can also be provided in a lessor degree through the foods God has created. These should only be used as a supplement to sunshine, not a replacement. Vitamin D is only one of the benefits of sunshine. I will list some additional benefits at the bottom of this post.
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Here are some natural sources of vitamin D:
Raw milk, cheese, and the like are an excellent natural source of vitamin D
Fortified or vitamin D milk (organic) is another source -- but it is not the best. It has been pasteurized, homogenized, and supplemented
Shiitake mushrooms are one of the few natural vegan sources of vitamin D
Fish liver oils
Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines, and tuna
Eggs
Natural (food based) supplements are available (and recommended if you are not getting enough from the sun or your diet)
Additional Benefits from the healing power of the sun [4]:
Exposure to the sun's radiation can increase T cells and other immune cell responders, thereby helping to prevent autoimmune disease.
Sunshine exposure stimulates melanocytes and keratinocytes in the skin and releases α-MSH, which improves the immune system, limits oxidative DNA damage, and increases gene repair.
Exposure to sunshine releases powerful neuropeptides which build up the immune system (which may explain why sunlight helps fight psoriasis).
Sun exposure results in increased lymphocyte proliferation and chemotaxis (chemically mediated movement).
Sunshine exposure releases natural opiates called endorphins into the blood.
Trust God. He gave us the sun to harness the light. That light provides all kinds of benefits to heal the body. Let's embrace its healing power and make a commitment to get our daily dose of vitamin D.
Next: Created to Move: Did God Create Us for Work (Exercise) or Is It Part of the Curse?
Return to: Biblical Health Study
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[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2290997/
[2] Ibid
[3] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2290997/
[4] Ibid