As a culture, we have grown to almost fear the life-giving rays of sun. Except for the sun-worshipers who faithfully do their time at the beach seeking the all-appealing tan, we either avoid sunshine altogether or lather ourselves with sunscreen to block any and all rays. And it's no wonder, for we've been taught that the sun causes cancer--particularly in very fair Caucasions. However, research is now bringing to light (pun intended) the fact that we actually need the sun. An alarming eighty-five percent of Americans are deficient in vitamin D according to a Harvard study. Given that the the sun's UV rays are the primary and most efficient method the body has to generate stores of this essential "nutrient," we now know that sunlight in moderation will improve our health, not risk it.

Sunshine is so criticial because it is the primary method the body uses to obtain vitamin D, a nutrient that is very difficult to obtain from the diet. Even fortified milk and juice contain just a small fraction of the amount that we need . . . and vitamin D deficiencies can be related to a number of chronic diseases from prostate and breast cancer to osteoporosis to rhuematoid arthritis. Research has found not only that people who were regularly exposed to UV radiation were thirty to forty percent less likely to develop lymphomas, but also that skin cancer (particularly melanoma) is often a result of a deficiencies in omega-3 fatty acids. So while the sun may play a part in exciting free radicals, the blame for cancer cannot lie solely with one factor.

Dr. Michael Holick, author of "The UV Advantage" and very respected authority on vitamin D, reports of a study done on expectant mothers just prior to birthing. The results were surprising: seventy-five percent of the mothers were deficient in vitamin D, even with usage of the prenatal vitamins. Not only that, but the deficiency was passed on to their babies for eighty-one percent born were reported to be deficient. By studying the results over time, they found that the vitamin D deficient babies were at a higher risk for developing chronic diseases later in life.

No expert recommends spending hours at a time in the sun, or even tanning. The key is to use moderation; they suggest about fifteen to twenty minutes, three or four times a week. It is important to note that those with darker skin pigmentation will need an extra twenty to thirty times the amount of exposure than those with fair skin. Dr. Holick advises to spend between five and ten minutes out in the sun before putting sunscreen on; that way, vitamin D levels are raised without the exposure level becoming too great. Even small amounts are beneficial, for as Dr. Mercola argues, "People in our culture do not get enough sun. They've been misled and deceived by the physicians to believe that the sun is dangerous, which is the furthest thing from the truth." The key is to use moderation. Imagine how much money could be saved if more of us took advantage of this free and natural healer!