Could Sunshine Be Good for You?
Feeling a little bad about all the time you've recently spent in the sun? Here's news that might help take some of the edge off.
New research suggests soaking up a little sunshine here and there might actually help strengthen your immune system. Seems counterintuitive -- and more research is needed to confirm the theory -- but here’s how it goes . . .
Bright, Sunshiny News
Although rates of skin cancer -- as well as several other types of cancer -- tend to be higher in sunnier latitudes, cancer patients in these regions seem to fare better when it comes to fighting the disease. Their secret defense? Researchers think it might be the extra vitamin D they score from living in a sunnier clime. (Vitamin D is that stuff your skin manufactures when exposed to sun.)
But Be a Sensible Sun-Body
Your body makes vitamin D from the sun faster and more effectively than it soaks it up from food and supplements. Still, you need to minimize your exposure to harmful UV rays, especially during the sun's peak hours (10 a.m.–4 p.m.). All you need is about 10–20 minutes of sun to get the D you need for the day. One option: Apply your SPF just before you head outdoors. By the time it kicks in, you'll have gotten a quick but ample dose of D.
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