As a personal trainer I have been meaning to write this for a while now and only this week saw the debate about Sunbeds rear its ugly head again. And we are not talking about the head of the not-so-healthy health minister here.
Typically what happens in Ireland is a rallying call from the political ranks, a cry from the special groups combined with a frenzy of over-the-top horror stories leads to the driving of a complete ban.
It's ok - it ain't gonna get ya
In this case it is not a complete ban of sun-beds but a regulatory system in particular for using tanning beds under the age of 18 and with clear warnings. Good move – but let’s get a few things straight here.
Prudent sun exposure AND responsible indoor tanning is perfectly safe.
Ok it may seem a little strange to rent a video and then hop on the sun-bed or dive into some seedy parlour for a few minutes. But we are missing the bigger picture here.
I would even add it is crucial to our health here in Ireland. We should not be frightening people out of the power of sunlight.
In fact it is so important to health and fitness that we administer UVB Light Therapy in our clinic here in Maynooth.
Let’s get one thing straight here. We need sunlight.
We don’t get enough sun. Ireland lies on 50-55 degrees latitude meaning that sun exposure is minimal. Countless studies have demonstrated that those areas around the globe exposed to more sun experience less cancer!
Speaking of which let’s have a look at the connection between sunlight and cancer. In his book The UV Advantage , Michael Hollick (who just so happens to be as pale as a ghost) outlines some key fallacies that need to be considered.
Maybe not the best joke to play...
For one it is though that any and all sun exposure causes skin cancer. In essence though we can’t live without UVB rays (for production of vitamin D) nor do we understand fully the connection between non-melanoma and UVB/UVA.
Equally there is no evidence to suggest that regular moderate sun exposure causes melanoma (skin cancer). After a 1995 conference the FDA were ‘baffled’ with the link between persons who had melanomas not exposed to regular sun. This seems to point the way to the fact that the actual cause of melanoma is varied and not just rooted in ‘big-bad-sun’.
Why is it that melanomas often appear in areas not exposed to the sun? For instance they are rarely on the face or the hands. For men it is the chest, stomach and back and the women it is the legs.
Isn’t it strange that at present we spend far more time indoors working in our bat-cave offices than our forefathers yet have a steadily increasing rise in skin cancer rates? Is it wonder that they may have built up a GRADUAL resistance to the sun over the years working outside and keeping most of their body covered?
Tanned skin protects your skin. It could be argued that you run more of a risk staying out of the sun altogether. Independent research has demonstrated that those individuals who gain sun exposure ultimately are healthier due to the production of the ‘uber vitamin’ vitamin D.
Paraben Free or Cover Up
In our modern age it is the classic look. There is nothing ‘gradual’ about this. One day of sun = the next day of lobsters. Amongst the young this is a disaster and will lead to an increase in skin cancer risk.
But to state that the sun solely causes cancer is pure scare-mongering.
When are both sides of the argument actually going to be presented to us? Just like the vaccine debacle (remember that – yep – we are all still alive and well thanks).
Sun exposure may actually prevent skin cancer. That is why, if you do a search in the journals, there are literally hundreds of studies done in the Scandinavian countries who with their limited sunlight find a positive relationship between improved health and the use of artificial UVB Light Beds.
The risk in this case outweighs the benefits. Get out in the sun as much as possible. Get your ‘dose’ and then cover up. Look into clinics that provide a UVB Therapy service to get your Vitamin D levels raised. Look for paraben free sun lotions but whatever you do do not be scared of the sun. You may be missing out on one of nature’s most powerful healing agents.
Closing thought – our health messages are coming from the mouth of someone who is morbidly obese. Just ‘food’ for thought.
John Lark is a personal trainer in maynooth
Go to www.spherefitnessstudio.com and pick up your free diet plan today
