Vitamin D, depression, and sunlight

[Guest guest]

Vitamin D, Depression, and Sunlight

When I first became depressed I had a terrific suntan and my hair

became bleached blond so I don't think lack of sunlight contributed

to my depression. However it seems that some people with depression

may gain much benefit from getting some extra sunlight because of the

vitamin D it produces.

I never liked too much sun and I tended to avoid it doing my

sunbathing in the shade if I was forced to stay out in it. As a kid I

found the sun to be too bright and the heat uncomfortable - I don't

sweat much - so although I like summers it is torture for me to lie

on a beach in all that dreadful sun. Also, some people become

depressed in the real hard summer, and that includes me, and is a

form of SAD.

Anyhow I now have alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease, and from

internet searches I have done I have become horrified that I might be

very low in vitamin D and have been most of my adult life. Apparently

this can lead to depression and autoimmune diseases such as

arthritis, MS, and also cancer. In fact, some doctors believe

depression to be an autoimmune disease where the brain becomes

inflamed through attack from the body.

Professor Reinhold Veith, a vitamin D specialist, believes we should

take about 5,000 units of vitamin D a day if we are not getting

enough sun. That would frighten most people, and the medical

profession as well, but getting too much vitamin is not so harmful

because we would feel very ill before irreversible damage sets in.

But not getting enough vitamin D means depression, arthritis, MS,

psoriasis, diabetes, brittle bones, and a whole host of other

dreadful illnesses. Also, most cancers are the result of not getting

enough vitamin D.

The advice of professor Hollick, a dermatologist, is to get about 20

to 30 minutes of sun three to four times a week which should turn the

skin pink but no more. He is also researching the other chemicals

that the sun produces in the skin and what function they have in the

body. And this is prime time sun too, because outside the hours 11 am

to 3pm UVB is low because it can't penetrate the atmosphere. But the

dangerous UVA stays the same throughout the day, and winter, because

it is an X-ray.

I take 5,000 units of vitamin D for 6 days a week but it is possible

that my body doesn't absorb most of it so I have just ordered a

narrow band UVB lamp that psoriasis sufferers use. In fact, some

authorities say you should take 10,000 units (IU) a day if cancer

runs in your family and according to professor Veith, your body will

use 4.000 units everyday if it can get it. The daily recommended dose

is about 400 UI's day and this stops rickets, but in fact, according

to modern research, the body needs far more.

UVA damages the skin because it is an X-ray and goes deep down into

the skin where new skin is made and destroys this area and this leads

to accelerated aging. It also penetrates your clothing so covering up

with a light shirt, or blouse, etc, doesn't work.. Most solariums use

UVA because as it does not burn the skin and they think it is safe

but it is far worse than UVB. Only UVB manufactures vitamin D,

melanin, and the other chemicals that might be beneficial to the

body. UVB only penetrates the surface of the skin and so doesn't

cause long term damage but it can cause skin cancer if you burn and

it is easy to overdose on it and so is quite dangerous.

Taking large amounts of vitamin D is risky and so is spending too

much time in the sun, or using UVB lamps, so you have too make your

own decision about what is best for you. I and all the other experts

I have quoted above might turn out to be completely wrong.

http://www.canceractive.com/page.php?n=509

Kavy