November 2006 vol 1#10

 The Sun - Forgotten Nutrient

 by Susan Solomon

When we think of nutritional supplements rarely, if ever, is the Sun listed among the vitamins or minerals.  Yet the Sun plays a vital and pivotal role in many physiological life processes.

Without enough sunlight many people are prone to depression. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is prevalent in the winter months and in the Northern Hemisphere.   The solution for this problem is full-spectrum light to duplicate the sun’s emissions as well as the ingestion of cod liver oil.

Sunlight is also essential for Vitamin D absorption and conversion in the skin. Without adequate amounts of Vitamin D bones cannot be strong.  Patients with osteoporosis are deficient in Vitamin D – either from a lack of sun exposure, or an inability to absorb Vitamin D from their intestinal tract.

Vitamin D is an immune-modulator. In actuality Vitamin D is not a vitamin at all, but a hormone.  Hormones  are delivered by the bloodstream to all cells in the body.  Much research remains to be done to elucidate all the mechanisms of Vitamin D’s biochemical effects.

Sunlight is vital to our ability to sleep.  Melatonin, which is synthesized by the pineal gland in the brain, is light-sensitive.  Without the sun to “set” its diurnal secretion,   our sleep-wake cycles become irregular. Shift-workers who may not see the sun for weeks on end have difficulties focusing, lack energy, and experience sexual arousal problems.

Lastly, the sun plays a role in night vision.  Over-use of sunglasses inhibits the body’s ability to distinguish between shades of darkness and light as well as inhibiting melatonin synthesis. Certainly other nutrients play a role (Vitamins A and E, fatty acids - especially phosphatidylcholine) but the sun remains an essential ingredient to healthy vision.

In summary, Sunlight is vital for balanced mood, normal sleep cycles, vision and bone/calcium  physiology.  Nothing on God’s Earth would function without Sunlight  -which is what He intended.

God created the Sun and it was good.

Visit Susan Solomon, MD at www.SusanSolomonMD.com.