Posted on 11/07/2007 6:54:26 PM PST by blam
Edited on 11/07/2007 8:52:38 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
Sunbathing 'slows ageing process'
Last Updated: 12:01am GMT 08/11/2007
Sunbathing can slow the ageing process by up to five years, according to new research.
Scientists have found that people who avoid the sun, or have inadequate vitamin D in their diet, are subject to genetic damage associated with ageing and age-related illnesses.
The effect of the damage is so great that those who lack vitamin D - often called the "sunshine vitamin" because 90 per cent of the body's intake is created by exposure to the sun - were biologically five years older than those with the highest levels.
Lead researcher Dr Brent Richards, from King's College, London said: "These results are exciting because they demonstrate for the first time that people with high levels of vitamin D may age more slowly than people with lower levels.
"This helps to explain how vitamin D has a protective effect on age-related illnesses such as heart disease."
Co-author Prof Tim Spector, also of King's College, said the study showed people should spend more time in the sun and eat more foods rich in vitamin D such as fish, eggs, fortified milk and breakfast cereals, or take supplements.
About one-third of the population is thought to be vitamin D deficient. Prof Spector said: "There are scares about melanomas, which do affect several thousand people per year.
"But vitamin D deficiency is making hundreds of thousands of people ill with potentially fatal diseases."
Cancer campaigners pointed out that too much exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer, which kills about 1,800 people in the UK each year.
Henry Scowcroft, of Cancer Research UK, said: "It doesn't take much time in the sun to make vitamin D, and always less time than it takes to redden or burn."
I am pale as all heck and slather on copious amount of sunscreen all the time no matter what—down here in Southern California. However I test exceedingly high for sun caused vitamin D absorption. I beleive this is because I jog about an hour 5 or so days a week (or atleast used to before I met my beloved FR—lol), however I wear one of those Sunbrella (? or some brand like that) hats with a wide rim and neck protector to protect my skin as well as all the sunscreen mentioned above.
So I think getting out for any type of outdoor exercise on a consistant basis with protection is probably optimal. But one can also do Vitamin D tablets. If prescribed by a doctor you will only have to take it only once a month which is nice, if one can remember to take the silly thing :-).
One key is to gradually build up exposure over time, starting with 3 minutes. The other is to limit exposure to off-peak hours, before 11 AM and after 3 PM. I have used this approach with fair-skinned people and it worked very well, but it takes concerted effort and patience.
Gophers as in go for the floor!
Those of us with “Irish phosphorescent skin” (as George Carlin called it) have to be extra careful. Red hair and freckles: watch out!
You are completely out of your league here. 3 minutes of exposure to “build up”. ROFL.
I’ve lived in this skin for likely longer than you’ve been alive. You don’t have a clue. Yeah, sounds harsh, it is. You don’t get it.
“I’ve lived in this skin for likely longer than you’ve been alive.”
Sorry, I was referring to younger people.
Wealth speeds marriage process.
“...you get a sufficient amount of Vitamin C in just a few minutes each day (like walking to your car or across the parking lot).”
If it were that easy there shouldn’t be widespread deficiencies.
Have seen this series before (oh yes, there are more) and I love the reaction of the little boy, in the red trunks...he looks kinda like a young Chris Rock, and he is just thinking 'what the ....?'
I’ve been taking lots of vitamins for around 20 years. But I never took much vitamin D because of the scare stories about how elevated doses could be toxic. Now it turns out that everyone needs more vitamin D, especially us fair skinned people who don’t get much sun.
Bizarre suit and skin. The child’s expression says it all.
Why do some people think anyone wants to see that much of them?
I dunno, but after seeing the old dear, I have a hankering for crabcakes.
Oops! Sorry -D!
There really aren’t widespread deficiencies, at least not in this country. There aren’t too many Americans walking around with rickets or osteomalacia. And in this country at least, milk is fortified with Vit D. A large problem with that is so many people drink soda instead of milk. It’s nothing for people to take in a liter or two of soda a day, even for teenagers.
You are so right about that. I have family in both Alaska and Maine, their skin is so absofreakinlutely gorgeous even into their 80s, that I’m jealous. I really hope that those genes got passed down and I’ll be that lucky if I continue to take care of my skin. My sis tans a lot and people are routinely surprised to find out she’s younger than I am. She’s going to be one those saggy-baggy ladies if she’s not careful.
I think the top string is lost in the wrinkles...
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