Avoiding the sun could be as dangerous as smoking…
Although they have an increased risk of skin cancer, sunbathers are less likely to die from heart disease, or pretty much any other disease. In fact, avoiding the sun could be as bad for us as smoking, say researchers.
The vitamin D from the sun’s rays is essential for the healthy functioning of our body and immune system, and staying in the shade all the time could be a recipe for a premature death, researchers from the Karolinksa University Hospital in Sweden have discovered.
Based on the review of 29,518 Swedish women, aged 24-64, whose levels of sun-exposure were tracked for 20 years, they offered these conclusions/predictions:
* people who regularly sunbathe will live just over two years longer than someone who always avoids the sun.
* Frequent sunbathers had a lower risk of developing heart disease or dying from any disease prematurely compared to those who avoided the sun.
* Non-smokers who avoided the sun had a similar life expectancy to smokers who had the highest exposure to the sun, suggesting that sun avoidance has a similar risk factor as smoking.
Just sunbathe responsibly, 20 minutes a day are generally enough! Protect sensitive areas.
Tags: sunlight, mortality, vitamin D, cardiovascular disease, smoking,