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May 29th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda COMMENTARY | Recently the Telegraph urged people to “enjoy the sun” to minimize the risk of stroke. Directly beside that headline, HealthDay reported that many people ignore the risks of skin cancer, with 71 percent of poll respondents believing such statements as “Sun exposure is good for your health.” We hear so much contradictory information about the benefits and risks of sun exposure that we are collectively left scratching our heads, wondering if we should or shouldn’t stay indoors to avoid melanoma.
The biggest problem that we face is a misinterpretation, both by the public and by the media, about the relative risks and benefits of sunlight. For example, the Telegraph‘s medical correspondent cited the medical journal Stroke to back up his claim that we should spend more time exposed to sun. But he clearly didn’t do a thorough job in his research; he made several incorrect statements, including the claim that vitamin D can be found in nuts (it can’t, unless they are fortified to contain it). The Telegraph also completely omitted any information about the risks associated with sun exposure, presenting a one-sided view that weighed all pro and no con.
It would be easy to read the misinterpreted news presented by the Telegraph and arrive at the conclusion that basking in the sun is healthy, but one only needs to meander over to a new article by HealthDay, based on recent research by the American Academy of Dermatology, to see equally slanted views. The article presents a short-sighted and narrow view that could lead people to the assumption that they should stay indoors to keep healthy.
We do know that excessive exposure to UV rays causes melanoma. We also know that vitamin D deficiency, most often caused by a lack of exposure to sunlight, contributes to the development of many diseases, including cancer. Vitamin D deficiency is becoming so common (and so serious) that the American Academy of Pediatrics has had to double its vitamin D recommendations for children, since deficiencies are striking at levels unprecedented in the last century.
More importantly, though, other dangers exist for people who stay indoors to avoid the risk of melanoma. The most common health problems facing our country right now are directly linked to sedentary lifestyles. People who don’t exercise are at a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, depression,and other debilitating illnesses. Staying indoors all day will reduce your chances of developing melanoma, but it will drastically increase your risk of more common, more serious diseases.
So do we stay indoors or go outside? Fortunately, the world has plenty of sane, balanced organizations, such as the American Cancer Society, to fill us in on the real skinny when it comes to sunlight safety. They encourage people to get plenty of time outdoors, but to “Slip, Slop, Slap, and Wrap” to minimize dangerous UV exposure. “Slip” on a shirt that covers as much skin as comfortably possible; “Slop” on a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher; “Slap” on a broad-brimmed hat; “Wrap” on sunglasses to protect your eyes.
The ACS also recommends scheduling outdoor activities (of course, including exercise) for the times in which the sun’s rays are less intense. Minimize your sunlight exposure between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. during the summer. Additionally, check your skin regularly for symptoms of skin cancer, including a new mole, a persistent itchy patch, or a change in a mole’s size, shape, or pigment. You can still enjoy the sunshine and reap the benefits of outdoor living without putting yourself at significant risk of skin cancer.
Juniper Russo is a health advocate, freelance writer, and dedicated mom living in Chattanooga, Tenn.
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