Guest guest Posted January 5, 2001 Report Share Posted January 5, 2001 From: Saul Pressman <saul@...> Sent: Friday, January 05, 2001 11:49 AM Subject: Benefits of sunlight > > Sun May Protect Against MS and Strokes > > According to research at the University of East Anglia in the UK, sunlight > protects > people against multiple sclerosis (MS) and prevents high blood pressure and > strokes. > > It was already known that people in northern latitudes such as Britain were > 100 > times more likely than those on the equator to get MS but no one knew why. > Two > related studies, covering 30 countries from the equator to the poles, show > the > beneficial effects of ultraviolet light in sunlight on both conditions. > > MS is a degenerative disease in which the immune system attacks the central > nervous system. Lead researcher Professor Bentham said sunlight has the > effect > of suppressing the immune system, but he believed ultraviolet light > stimulating the > production of vitamin D was the probable protective element. " It is the > vitamin D that is the key. If the body has enough then it protects against > MS. More work is needed but it looks as if this could become an important > method of preventing the disease. " > > Fellow researcher Andy , a lecturer in environmental science, looked at > blood > pressure, which is related to heart problems and strokes. People living near > the > equator had considerably lower blood pressure than those in temperate > regions. > Again he believed that vitamin D production caused by sunlight was > responsible for > the difference. > > When there is a shortage of vitamin D, the body produces parathyroid > hormone, > (which draws calcium out of the bones), increasing heart rate and blood > pressure. His theory was backed by research which showed that nurses who > took calcium supplements had a 25% reduction in heart disease. > > Dr said: " We are talking about an incremental benefit of daily > sunlight over years, not one big hit lying on a beach, giving you a steady > supply of Vitamin D, (created by the body from cholesterol and ultraviolet > radiation). > > ------------------------------------ > Best of Health! > Dr. Saul Pressman, DCh > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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