Not long ago, while looking for the best pediatrician for my soon-to-be-born daughter, I asked a “candidate” pediatrician what makes the “flu season”. The answer was, “Well, it means that a lot of people get the flu during those months”. For many, that’s still the answer. I actually was looking for a deeper answer, not just a smile and a dumb look. Unfortunately, doctors these days are not even trained to establish a relationship with families, let alone take time to discuss health in-depth. Maybe she just thought I was like many others and preferred not to hear the truth, choosing to live in ignorance.
In the meantime, this is my take on the flu season and why it happens during the same months each year. October is full of candies followed by stressful November where people are travelling to get together and give thanks. In late November, everyone begins to get ready for a beautiful December by spending money they don’t have for Christmas. December is about pleasing the family, friends, and those that need a little something, so before we know it we are giving too much—more than we have even at the physical level. If those stressors do not contribute to the flu through the amazing stress and overeating, then what does? Maybe we need a vaccine to control the candy-eating, over-planning, and general over-eating! I choose to pay attention to the meaning of the seasons and enjoy them that way.
At precisely the same time of year when we are too busy and eating too much, and possibly travelling and exposing ourselves to new germs, the days are shorter and we may not spend as much time in the sun—why does this matter and how does it relate to the flu season?
Don’t go out, don’t look at it, don’t feel it--the Sun is really dangerous! It is cancerous, it will make you age faster. (And, I say, there is no respect for the beauty of aging. A couple of wrinkles are sexy--you know that!) Think how lucrative it is for companies to sell you sun screens and anti-aging creams just to shield yourself and walk around on this planet every day.
In actuality, the Sun was once worshipped by numerous cultures throughout history because of its healing and therapeutic powers. Sadly, that is not the case today. Many fail to inform the public about the people that die and get sick from a lack of sun exposure! Doctors, the media, skin “experts” and those with other credentials to fool you! These people are misinformed and keep studying disease instead of the benefits of exposing yourself to nature. Exposure to the Sun regulates vitamin D levels, which is critical to your immune system.
The fear of sun exposure combined with the fact that many people now work indoors has contributed to a silent epidemic of vitamin D deficiency. The conservative estimate is that 70% of Americans are deficient in vitamin D. Recent evidence strongly suggests that if all Americans got enough sunshine, the number of cancers diagnosed each year would drop by 200,000 and the annual number of cancer deaths would drop by as much as 63,000. That’s just for the United States alone! A new study looked at data from 177 countries examining blood serum levels of vitamin D3, satellite measurements of sunshine and cloud cover, and breast and colon cancer rates. Researchers found that adequate sun exposure could prevent as many as 250,000 cases of colorectal cancer and 350,000 cases of breast cancer annually around the world. That’s 600,000 more cancer-free people!
If you’ve been avoiding the sun because you’re afraid of getting skin cancer, you’re actually doing yourself more harm than good. That’s because sunlight is your best source of vitamin D, which is produced naturally when the sun’s rays touch your skin. Vitamin D is essential for your health and for the proper functioning of your organs and cells. Lack of vitamin D will leave you vulnerable to a number of chronic diseases, including:
• 16 types of internal cancer
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Hypertension
• Multiple sclerosis
• Osteoporosis
• Psoriasis
• Ricketts
• Schizophrenia
• Tuberculosis and,
• Myopathy- just worked with someone that had this disease and it is not a pretty picture.
There are no simple guidelines that will tell you how much sun you actually need because it depends on your skin tone. The amount of sun exposure Caucasians need differs from that of African-Americans or Asians because the darker your skin is, the less likely it is that you will produce adequate vitamin D levels from sun exposure alone. You also can’t rely solely on oral vitamin D supplements because taking a vitamin D capsule is not the same as getting vitamin D the way your body was designed to produce it – by getting sunlight to strike your uncovered skin. Vitamin D is not made in a lab!
I am here to say that the Sun is actually good for YOU. I know that over exposure to the Sun can cause harmful effects on your beautiful skin, but it will hurt more to not go out for at least 15 minutes a day. This, of course will vary due to ethnicity.
Go out to the Sun and investigate it! Take some time today and play outside with your kids. Leave the fear that has been planted behind and enjoy life. Live freely! And, you will stop the epidemic of lack of vitamin D. You know, many times I MIGHT Sound arrogant when I try to make you aware of things, and many feel offended when I asked questions that to me are basic--they should be to you as well. Did you drink water today? How is your sleep? Do you play or exercise outside? I ask all of these questions of people when they come to me with pain, musculoskeletal dysfunctions, skin problems, constipation, etc. This train of thought comes from the simplicity of living well. I am trying to help you wake up from your numbness!
Now, lets do the challenge. By this time, if you have been reading my articles you should have a pretty good idea of how your body functions and that the main reason for communicating with you is because I care. Email with questions about my articles and I will answer you directly with my intention being to establish a healthy YOU.
Migdoel “Dio” Miranda
CHEK III
HLC II
Advanced Metabolic Typing Advisor
