A daily dose of sunshine could keep cancer away.

For years, doctors, especially dermatologists have preached the importance of wearing significant sunscreen to prevent aging and cancer. Now, a growing body of research suggests that vitamin D, which the skin makes from sunshine, may help prevent and possibly treat many kinds of cancer. So, the next time you take off in your convertible or go for a run without your sunscreen, you don't have to feel guilty. In fact, soak it up! At least for a few minutes.

Imagine that?!

Dr. Michael Holick, Ph.D., of Boston University, says that soaking up D rays from the sun fifteen minutes a day, three times a week, lets the skin produce enough vitamin D most of the year.

And to think the last time I used a tanning bed was in Boston in October 1989 -- just in time for my fall wedding.

Now, it may be time to buy stock in ProSun.

Or attend Today's Image Tanning Expo at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, June 15-17.

Dr. Michael Holick, Ph.D. -- AP Photo Credit: Steven Senne

Dr. Holick, the author of The UV Advantage and a speaker at the upcoming tanning conference in Nevada, willingly illustrates the use of the tanning bed which uses ultraviolet radiation as one way of providing vitamin D to users.

Meanwhile, down the Charles River a couple of miles another doctor is also advocating that people should spend a little more time in the sun -- without sunscreen -- so that their skin can absorb this helpful vitamin.

Dr. Edward Giovannucci, professor of medicine and nutrition at Harvard University, gave a keynote lecture recently at a major cancer research meeting, during which he claimed that vitamin D may help prevent 30 cancer deaths for each death from skin cancer.

Giovannucci told the scientific cancer community:

I would challenge anyone to find an area or nutrient or any factor that has such consistent anti-cancer benefits as vitamin D.

The data are really quite remarkable.

In fact, the American Cancer Society found Giovannucci's statement so compelling that they are forcing themselves to rethink their position on sun protection.

Michael Thun, the American Cancer Society's chief epidemiologist, is now spearheading the process of reviewing the society's sun protection guidelines.

Thun said:

There is now intriguing evidence that vitamin D may have a role in the prevention as well as treatment of certain cancers.

Other dermatologists are starting to come around as well.

In the last three months alone, four separate studies found the sun helped protect against lymphoma and cancers of the prostate, lung and, ironically, the skin.

The strongest evidence is for colon cancer.

Of course, no one behind the four studies is advocating that we go back to becoming "unprotected sun worshippers."

Safe Sun

However, if UV light will do much more good than harm, then practicing "safe sun" may be a term we hear more often in the future.

The vitamin is D, nicknamed the "sunshine vitamin" because the skin makes it from ultraviolet rays.

The fact is sunscreen blocks the production of vitamin D.

So, for those who aren't getting enough Vitamin D naturally from salmon, tuna and other oily fish -- in order to keep the cancer away -- put that top down, take a walk, or jump in that tanning bed for a few minutes to get your suggested dose of 1,500 IUs of vitamin D.

During the winter months, consider giving yourself and your kids vitamin D-3 supplements, especially if you or they have dark-skin.

The most deadly form of skin cancer, melanoma, accounts for only 7,770 of the 570,280 cancer deaths expected to occur in the United States this year.

More than 1 million milder forms of skin cancer will occur. These cancers are the ones tied to chronic or prolonged suntanning.

Dr Holick stated recently:

The problem has been that the American Academy of Dermatology has been unchallenged for 20 years.

They have brainwashed the public at every level.

Dr. Peter Greenwald, chief of cancer prevention for the National Cancer Institute said approximately a dozen major studies are under way to test vitamin D's ability to ward off cancer. A number of other studies are testing its potential to treat the disease.

Dr. James Leyden, professor emeritus of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania, who has consulted for sunscreen makers, said:

The skin can handle it, just like the liver can handle alcohol.

I like to have wine with dinner, but I don't think I should drink four bottles a day.

Perhaps one bottle of vitamins instead ... or "drink in" fifteen minutes of natural vitamin D rays three times a week.

For the National Institutes of Health's Current Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet on Vitamin D go to:

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "soaking up the D rays" living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegance, LLC