By Marc Sorenson, EdD. Sunlight institute. Embracing the sun.
Heart disease is our number-one killer. It is caused primarily by consumption of animal products and lack vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes. However, sun exposure and vitamin D may also have profound effects on the disease.
Italian research shows that vitamin D deficiency is closely associated with heart attacks.[1] The researchers measured vitamin D levels in 478 heart attack patients and discovered an average level of 14.5 ng/ml, which is very deficient. Obviously, there had not been enough sunbathing among this group, and the researchers noted that the risk of heart attack was lower during summer season. Nevertheless, vitamin D levels were still far too low.
The study recommended that “exposure to sunlight may be a cost-saving therapeutic strategy for the management of vitamin D deficiency.”
It is wonderful to see such advice from medical or nutritional experts. However, I opine that low vitamin D may not be the primary photoproduct of sun exposure that exerts a protective influence against heart attacks. Nitric oxide, also produced by sun exposure of the skin, has the ability to impressively lower blood pressure. High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major risk factor for heart disease and heart attacks. See one of my previous posts on blood pressure at http://sunlightinstitute.org/high-blood-pressure-hypertension-caused-low-vitamin-d-levels-sun-deprivation/.
For someone who wishes to stop heart disease in its tracks, don’t eat the food that causes the disease. In addition get a few minutes of midday sun without sunscreen as often as possible. It could help to save your life! Remember not to burn. At the first sign of redness, seek shade or cover up.
[1] Aleksova A, Belfiore R, Carriere C, Kassem S, La Carrubba S, Barbati G, Sinagra G. Vitamin D Deficiency in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: An Italian Single-Center Study. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2015;85(1-2):23-30.