Sun deprivation and bone health by Marc Sorenson, EdD

Sun deprivation associates very closely to bone health, and that fact has been made abundantly clear by my previous blogs. So now, another small report adds credence to an already overwhelming volume of evidence. This evidence will shortly be discussed. Because bone weakness and fractures are pandemic due to osteoporosis, this blog serves as a reminder. Due to the potential pain, disability and deterioration of life quality caused by this disease, drastic action is needed. So, let me give a stark warning to both women and men! First of all, both should to seek regular, non-burning sun exposure. Furthermore, they should eat plenty of green vegetables, give up smoking and do some impact exercise several times weekly. (Also, check with a doctor before doing impact exercise.)

 A startling, but obviously true statement regarding sun deprivation and bone health

Almost all problems with bone health would disappear if the people regularly utilized the aforementioned advice on reducing osteoporosis. While weak bones are caused by neglecting sunlight, vegetable consumption and exercise, one factor stands above the others. Thus, let’s consider the prophylactic effect achieved by soaking up the sun:

The study from Spain: Sun deprivation is the biggest problem.

Research in Spain showed this astounding result: Women who were sun-seekers had only about one-eleventh the risk of hip fracture as those who were not. Most people would probably say that this was due to vitamin D production by the skin when exposed to sunlight. And many would also say that vitamin D supplements could achieve the same results. However, it is especially relevant that I have not seen any study on supplements that demonstrates that degree of protection. In addition to vitamin D, sun exposure also produces many other vital photoproducts. So, sunlight is “holistic” medicine, whose benefits go far beyond vitamin D production.

Now let’s discuss the latest study on sun deprivation and bone health.

Since we believe sun deprivation leads to weakened bones, let’s look at recent research on a single individual. (See the first link in this article.) The study involved osteomalacia, a soft-bone disease related to osteoporosis.

The researchers described the individual’s problems thusly: “We report a case of 51-years-old woman, with a religious garment, with slowly progressing weakness of the proximal limb muscles, extreme fatigue, chest and lower spine pain, paresthesia [a burning sensation in the extremities}, depression, difficulties in walking and waddling gait.” A rather miserable condition, no? This woman improved due to vitamin D supplementation. And how much more might she have improved if she could have done some full-body sunbathing?

In conclusion: These bone diseases, caused by sun deprivation, could be eradicated almost totally by non-burning sun exposure and the few other lifestyle changes suggested above. Embrace the Sun!

Happy sunning.

Sun deprivation and its deleterious effects on children. By Marc Sorenson, EdD.

Sun deprivation is a tragedy!          

Sun deprivation, first of all, has been discussed in my last four blogs and it has concentrated on children’s health. The last blog discussed sun deprivation and rickets. And I will continue to pursue this subject until people stop abusing their children by denying them natural sunlight. For more on the tragic consequences of sun deprivation, visit http://sunlightinstitute.org/

Was sun deprivation always practiced, or is it a new phenomenon?

It seems like, in the past, both the people and the government understood the vital necessity of sun exposure. Consequently, In the 1930s, the Department of Labor printed a pamphlet called Sun for Babies. So here is a quote from that pamphlet. “Every mother who wishes her baby to have robust health should give him regular sun baths from early infancy until he is old enough to play in the sun himself.” They continued: “If the sun’s rays are to help the baby grow properly and to prevent rickets, they must fall directly on the skin and tan it.” While that may have been popular advice in the 1930s it would not be popular today. Hence, it is likely that any parent practicing “baby tanning” would be arrested for child abuse. Since the 1930’s the dermatological profession has come a long way… in the wrong direction!

Does sun deprivation affect a child’s growth?

So, research related to bone growth in children shows that they grow more rapidly during summer months. And, other researchers have also observed that children seem to grow more rapidly in summer.  Why should this be? Probably because sun exposure is greater in the summer. And, that sun exposure stimulates the vitamin D necessary for robust bone growth. For full documentation, see the book Embrace the Sun.

Because we love them and want them to have good health, we should give them regular non-burning sunlight. We want our children to have reasonable growth rates. The vitamin D produced by sun exposure can produce larger and stronger bones. Sun deprivation may retard growth. And, vitamin D may also be accompanied by factors such as nitric oxide, serotonin, endorphins and other healthful photoproducts. Consequently, these photoproducts may assist vitamin D. Whatever the mechanisms, we now know that the sun has one more critically important effect on human health: accelerated growth among our children.

Protect your children from the Powers of Darkness. Happy sunning.

Embrace the Sun.

Save a child, by Marc Sorenson, EdD

Save a child, and save the children, are part of a series of blogs promoting sunlight for our youth. It is astounding how closely childhood diseases and disorders associate to sun deprivation. Let’s get serious! Many of these diseases occur due to indoor lifestyles and sun “protection.”

Save a child with sunlight and prevent a disastrous disease.

Let’s discuss a terrible disease that is totally unnecessary and can scar a child’s life forever. It is the horrible disease of bone deformity and weakness called rickets. And, it is a disease almost wholly due to vitamin D deficiency. It is most noteworthy that rickets was once thought to be eradicated by vitamin D supplementation in the food supply. But due to lack of sunlight (always the best source of vitamin D), the disease is again rearing its ugly head. Addition of vitamin D has not been sufficient to overcome vitamin D deficiency due to sun deprivation.

Save a child in a sunny state.

Furthermore, rickets is occurring in sunny states, where one would think it could not exist. Another fact is that 83% of cases occur in black children. Black children and adults need more time in the sun to produce vitamin D than do Caucasians.  And, 96% of the cases were breast-fed, demonstrating a lack of vitamin D in their mothers’ milk. Yet, the primary cause is living indoors and avoiding sun. Therefore, this alarming comeback by rickets is not a surprise. And it is not confined to the U.S.

Can sunlight save a child in Ethiopia?

Especially relevant to the widespread geography is a study in Ethiopia showing 42% of children are vitamin D deficient. And, the prevalence of deficiency is significantly higher among urban children and in children less exposed to sun. The researchers who produced this data, trying to save a child, made the following observations regarding their findings: “Behavior change communication to enhance exposure to ultraviolet light is critical to prevent vitamin D deficiency in a tropical country like Ethiopia. Further study is required to assess the deleterious effect of its deficiency on bone mineral homeostasis of growing children in Ethiopia during their most critical period of bone development.”

In addition, to save a child from rickets may also save that child from terrible dental health.

Rickets is also associated with destruction of dental health. In the medical journal Pediatrics, an interesting report discussed the plight of two young girls who suffered from severe tooth decay related to rickets. We have already discussed that rickets is characterized by defective bone growth and horribly deformed bodies. And we now see that it may also be characterized by teeth without enamel. Rickets is also associated with autism. Save a child from both physical and mental disability by getting him or her out in the sunlight.

No one ever needs to have rickets. Pregnant mothers, get out in the sun for a few minutes around midday and make certain your children play in the sun regularly. Just take care not to burn. Save a child! If all mothers and children would follow this advice, rickets would cease to exist.

Happy sunning.

For more information, peruse the literature on bone diseases on http://sunlightinstitute.org/, or read the book, Embrace the Sun.