There is a reason many of us love to spend time outdoors, especially on a sunny day; sunlight can boost mood, improve sleep, strengthen bones and potentially reduce high blood pressure. When sunlight touches our skin it stimulates the production of vitamin D in our bodies. Vitamin D is vital to human health as it regulates absorption of two of our major minerals, calcium and phosphorus. We need phosphorus to build strong bones, but it is also needed for the body to make protein for the growth, maintenance, and repair of each and every cell in the body. Calcium is necessary for nerve function, and therefore all muscle contractions, including the heart. We also need it for proper enzyme function, the catalysts for all processes in our bodies. We store these nutrients in our bones and without enough of them our bones become weak.
The timing and duration of exposure is also a crucial factor. Ideally the best sunlight to get is at sunrise and sunset, as the light wavelengths at these times have the biggest impact on brain centers that regulate our circadian clock, our mood and alertness.
But the sun can be harmful to the skin without proper protection.
Sun damage happens when ultraviolet (UV) light touches the skin unprotected by sunscreen, which causes DNA changes at a cellular level.
How do plants avoid getting a sunburn?
Plants have their own built-in protection against the damaging effects of the sun. When you eat these plants, you assimilate those protective compounds which can have the same effect in your body. Many plants use a group of chemicals called sinapate esters. These are aromatic compounds sitting in the upper cell layers of these plants’ leaves that defend against the sun, while still allowing light absorption for photosynthesis. Sinapic acid shows antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, anticancer, and anti‐anxiety activity and is very abundant in brassica leaves (like kale, bok choy, cabbage and mustard greens). Closely related natural substances called cinnamates are equally as effective, and are already used widely in sunblocks. They are found in large quantities in galangal rhizomes, sweet basil leaves and cumin seeds.
Other antioxidant phytonutrients (such as carotenoids, flavonoids and cucrcumoids) help boost your skin’s natural ability to protect itself by stimulating the synthesis of melanin and by chasing away free radicals caused by UV rays. They cruise around the body searching for free radicals so that they can neutralize them before they damage the tissues. This antioxidant protection allows the skin cells to regenerate new healthy cells and reduce your risk from skin cancer, sun spots and wrinkles. Carotenoids are abundant in orange plant foods like carrots, winter squashes, tomatoes, and bell peppers. Flavonoids are in most of the plant foods we eat, but are particularly abundant in citrus fruits, apples, kale, onions, and berries. Curcumoids are abundant in turmeric, which is very anti-inflammatory and soothing on our tissues.
Some phrases were adapted from ARIEL BLAKE-RICHARDS
How can imaet help in our relationship with the sun?
Getting rid of food sensitivities and allergies, so one can process and uptake all those beneficial phytonutrients. Also, upregulating the DNA repair genes regularly to overcome mutations or simply simulate them to 'work harder'. UV radiation from sunlight is the leading cause of skin cancer. Therefor upregulating gene repair is could be a powerful option to limit cancer causing genetic damage to skin cells.
In the end, moderation is key. And if one cannot be moderate, sunblock saves the day.
"imaet is a Bioenergetic Communication Technology interfacing with epigenetic function, developed by Dr. Bernard Straile"
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