Writings & Recent Thoughts
The Benefits of Sunlight
Human beings were not made to live indoors and out of direct sunlight.
A bit of history
Much of the public discussion when it comes to sunlight focus on the negative impacts of spending too much time in the sun. A hypersensitivity to skin cancer and diseases related to sun exposure has caused the general population to be cautious when it comes to being in direct sunlight. The way our society is structured means that the majority of the population spend their time indoors and away from nature. Most people agree that there are clear benefits to spending time in nature although many never take the time to make this a priority in their lives. However, most people do not agree that we as a population require more sunlight, most say that we need to decrease the amount of time in the sun to decrease health risks. The sun gives off UVR (ultraviolet radiation) which can have both beneficial and hazardous effects on the human body and mind. The ancient Greeks knew this and Apollo, their sun god, could bring both health and sickness to those who did/did not worship him. The Mayans also knew this and their sun god Ah Kin could bring both doubt and protection. Many ancient figures that are associated with the sun bring both good and bad to the population that worships them. A final example is the god Utu which was worshipped in Mesopotamian culture and was thought the be the bringer of divine justice, giving those who he visited what they deserved (good or bad). Even Jesus Christ is often depicted with light radiating from him and is indirectly associated with the sun. Historically, most cultures in habitable and comfortable climates wore very little clothing and spent a large amount of time in the sun. By the 1600s most places had adopted the wearing of clothing and many spent cultures spent increasingly more time in the sun. Eventually, doctors in Europe and North America began to recommend full-body sunbathing as a treatment for many diseases. These treatments proved to be effective in curing or assisting in the curing of diseases like rickets or TB.
The Body
Getting back to modern science, about 95% of all UVR can penetrate through the skin and damage the internal structures indirectly by generating hydroxyl and oxygen radicals. Diseases caused by excessive UVR exposure account for less than 1% of all the disease burden on the planet. On the flip side of this is the WHO which recently acknowledged that a disease burden of 3.3 billion DALYs (disability-adjusted life years) is a result of low UVR exposure. Meaning that more people lose years off their life from not being in the sun than those who suffer negative impacts associated with too much sunlight. Direct sunlight provides a boost to the body’s supply of vitamin D which is involved in regulating around 1,000 different genes in the human body. The body was made to thrive in sunlight. Deficiency of vitamin D can cause many issues in the human body such as growth retardation and skeletal deformities. Michael Holick, a medical professor and director of the Bone Health Care Clinic at Boston University Medical Center, says, “The primary physiologic function of vitamin D is to maintain serum calcium and phosphorous levels within the normal physiologic range to support most metabolic functions, neuromuscular transmission, and bone mineralization.” Children who do not get enough sun exposure will not develop appropriate bone strength and will be more likely to suffer from osteoporosis later in life. There is also some evidence to suggest that lack of sunlight exposure can even increase the likelihood of getting other forms of cancer. “Populations that Living at higher latitudes increases the risk of dying from Hodgkin lymphoma, as well as breast, ovarian, colon, pancreatic, prostate, and other cancers, as compared with living at lower latitudes. A randomized clinical trial by Joan Lappe, a medical professor at Creighton University, and colleagues, published in the June 2007 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, confirmed that taking 2–4 times the daily dietary reference intake of 200–600 IU vitamin D3 and calcium resulted in a 50–77% reduction in expected incidence rates of all cancers combined over a four-year period in postmenopausal women living in Nebraska” (M Nathaniel Mead).
The Mind
There is also strong evidence that exposure to sunlight can bring psychological benefits in addition to physiological benefits. It is common for people to feel better after spending time outside in nature which often includes direct sunlight. A 2009 study found “among depressed participants, a dose-response relationship was found between sunlight exposure and cognitive function, with lower levels of sunlight associated with impaired cognitive status (odds ratio = 2.58; 95% CI 1.43–6.69). While both season and sunlight were correlated with cognitive function, a significant relation remained between each of them and cognitive impairment after controlling for their joint effects”(Shia T. Kent). The presence of seasonal depression is also a clear sign that human minds do better when the body is exposed to sunlight. Many people find themselves struggling with emotional issues during the winter or rainy seasons. The lack of sunlight can cause cognitive issues such as weaker memory and depression. Those suffering from seasonal depression can suffer from low energy, sleep disruption, weight gain, and even suicidal thoughts. Direct sunlight can also assist in the regulation of a normal sleep schedule, human beings are designed biologically to take the setting of the sun as a trigger for sleep. The body releases melatonin as a response to darker lighting. During the day, sunlight increases the body’s levels of serotonin which impacts every part of the body and regulates mood. In a society in which many people work and live indoors with very little exposure to direct sunlight, is it any surprise that mental health issues are on the rise?
Conclusion
Exposure to sunlight can assist the body in growing correctly and functioning properly as time goes on, without sunlight, the human mind will suffer from a variety of issues. Our society pushes us indoors and encourages us to live our lives online with no thought to the nature around us. The increasing technology and dependence on social media cause many people to decrease the amount of time they spend in the sun. It is rare to see children playing outdoors when just a decade or two ago that would have been common. It is foolish to think that the human body can live like this after thousands of years of living in sunlight and not suffer adverse effects. Many diseases that people suffer from both mental and physical could be positively impacted by more time spent in the sun. There is a reason that the sun is associated with life, virility, and strength. Live life in the sun and prosper.
*The information provided in this post is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2290997/ - M. Nathaniel Mead
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2728098/ - Shia T. Kent
https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/benefits-sunlight#mental-health
https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/serotonin
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Affirmations For Strength
The energy that you send into the universe will eventually come back to you. What you say and how you think can impact the way you see the world and how you choose to live your life. Use affirmations to bring your internal thoughts in line with the goals you have for your life.
I have all the strength I need
I am supreme in the way I live my life
I have the power to change my reality
My internal strength allows me to pursue my dreams
I am stronger than my surroundings
There is no weakness in my mental armor
My body is strong
My soul is strong
My mind is strong
I can accomplish anything I set my mind to
My strength enables me to endure whatever I may go through
I am worthy and able
Excellence is inside of me
I always expect the best from myself
I am strong enough
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The Impact of Soy Consumption
Soybean products have gained significant traction in the “health foods” market as a product that is better for human consumption than traditional sources of protein such as red meats. This is part of a larger movement in which areas of the health community are moving towards meatless products in search of other sources of protein. Many of these meatless products are marketed as healthier and more beneficial for the human body as well as the environment when compared to traditional protein sources. In this post, we will explore the history of these products and the scientific literature on the effects they have on the human body.
Where/when/why did Soy products originate?
Unless you have been living under a rock for the last quarter-century, you will have noticed an uptick in meatless protein products. Everything from “beefless” ground beef in grocery stores to fast-food restaurants marketing their meatless burgers. This can be alarming for some in the health and fitness sector who perhaps believe that this new trend has not been investigated enough to understand the long-term impacts. I for one would agree with this perspective. The origins of these fake meat products are disputed but most claims put this invention around the early 20th century (the 1900s). These products do not appear to have gained much traction until a larger social push for the lower consumption of meat began in the United States around the 1970s. Frances Moore Lappé published the best-selling book “Diet for a Small Planet” in 1971. This book became the jumping-off point for a movement that promoted consuming less meat for the sake of world hunger. Ms. Lappé saw the world as a place where there was plenty of food to go around but it was being wasted on feeding animals to produce beef. In Lappé’s opinion, the process of raising cattle for food is inefficient, and that the entire world would be able to eat from the grain supply currently going towards the meat industry.
While an honorable purpose, freeing the world from hunger, it does not seem to be as potent of an issue today. In 1970 just prior to the release of “Diet for a Small Planet” the number of people living in extreme poverty was 1.77 billion, roughly half of the global population at that time. In 2015, that number was 733.48 million, roughly 10% of the global population and declining. Not only have we been able to decrease the percentage of the population in extreme poverty but we have done so while the population is skyrocketing. The percentage of the world population living in extreme poverty is expected to drop to near zero by 2030. It does not appear to make sense to up-end the food industry in many industrialized nations in order to fix a problem that is already being addressed. The statistical data indicating that the introductory purpose of soy products has been rendered useless has caused a shift in the narrative surrounding the marketing of meatless products.
Red flags
Soy contains a high concentration of isoflavones which are essentially a type of plant estrogen aka phytoestrogen. These isoflavones are able to function in similar ways to the estrogen that is produced by the human body. Phytoestrogen can bind to the estrogen receptors in the body and cause estrogenic or even anti-estrogenic activity. When bound to the receptors in the human body, these isoflavones can cause issues with thyroid function which suggests that there is some potential to affect hormonal function. The issue comes specifically with genistein which is the main isoflavone in soy. Research suggests that high consumption of genistein alters reproduction as well as the development of embryos. A study conducted on female mice showed that the consumption of genistein led to reduced fertility levels and as a consequence, abnormal embryo development. Another study conducted on young female rats found that those rats who had been fed large amounts of genistein from birth suffered from issues including early puberty and irregular estrous cycles. These high-dosage rats also birthed smaller than normal litters.
The findings of these studies are concerning due to the fact that the basic structure of reproductive systems between rats and humans is similar. The estrous cycles experienced by female rats are comparable with the menstrual cycle that the female human body undergoes. The scientific literature featuring human subjects is sparse and under-researched, to say the least, however one long-term study on women who were fed soy formula as infants have been conducted. This study concluded that the women who had been exposed to soy since birth suffered from hormonal issues that included longer periods and more intense menstrual cramping. The main issue with soy is that the scientific studies needed to determine the safety of soy-based products have not yet been concluded. While the American Association of Pediatricians has declared these products are not toxic to children, they were unable to say that there was no impact on the human body from the consumption of soy. Additionally, there are many gastrointestinal issues that can result from the consumption of soy which points to the fact that human beings were made to consume protein primarily from animal meat. Supporting this idea is the fact that allergy to soy is one of the most common allergies among the human population while allergy to meat is very rare and most of the time comes from the bite of the “Texas Lonestar” tick.
Perhaps more alarmingly, the US Food and Drug administration moved to revoke a health claim regarding the benefits of soy consumption in 2017. This was related to the claim that the consumption of soy protein reduces the risk of heart disease, a very common talking point for those that push soy products. Heather Patisaul who is a developmental biologist has sounded the alarm on soy consumption, pointing to the fact that it has similar effects to bisphenol A aka BPA. This is the estrogenic substance that is contained in plastics that can harm brain function as well as hormone regulation. Patisaul claims that genistein affects the human body in a similar way to BPA however, it is marketed as healthy.
Red meat
The common reason given to justify the consumption of soy products is the fact that they are healthier than traditional sources of protein such as red meat. However many of the studies on red meat consumption conducted for the sake of increasing the viability of soy products do not tell the whole story. Many of these studies are observational studies that are unable to prove causation. In the age of mass consumption, it is important to realize that all red meats are not equal. Processed foods can contain hormones and substances that are used to increase the size of the animals the meat is taken from. The presence of growth hormones in some animal products has been the subject of many studies over the years and the results show that it is more likely present in processed meat products. However, grass-fed and organic red meat products are still necessary for the human diet. Red meat is one of the most important sources of a number of nutrients that can positively impact the human body. Strong levels of zinc, iron, vitamin B3, B12, and B6 are all present along with high levels of protein. Red meat also contains creatine and carnosine which are important to keep the systems of the body functioning normally. When it comes to red meat the most important thing is that it is unprocessed and as natural as possible.
Conclusion
The evidence that red meat causes health problems is far from definitive when combined with studies on organic red meat and the fact that many derogatory studies are done by those who are trying to push soy products into the market. The isoflavones in soy can result in estrogenic or even anti-estrogenic effects on the body resulting in a myriad of issues related to hormones and hormone production. This can be as simple as feeling tired most of the time due to low thyroid production or even fertility issues as suggested in animal studies. When looking to consume protein through red meat it is important to ensure that the meat is organic and of the highest quality possible.
Thanks for reading.
*The information provided in this post is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice*
References
https://ourworldindata.org/extreme-poverty
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-red-meat-bad-for-you-or-good#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/soy/
https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/phytochemicals/soy-isoflavones
https://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/30/health/fda-soy-heart-health-claim-bn/index.html
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1747-0080.2007.00197.x
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All information provided in these writings is for educational purposes only.