to [re-mem-ber]:

Although mainstream media may lead you to believe that sunshine is bad for you, a deficiency in Vitamin D is actually a bigger threat than overexposure to the sun. New research suggests that higher levels of Vitamin D3 can lessen the severity of multiple sclerosis, a largely misunderstood autoimmune disorder. What is understood is that the immune system is not functioning properly, and that is really all you need to know. It means the body is fundamentally upset in some way, it is out of balance. What exactly is on earth that allows it to sustain our types of life? Water, oxygen, food, and sunlight. It is very easy to understand that not eating, drinking, or breathing will cause death very quickly (not eating being the slowest of these), but sunshine should be included as well. Lack of sunlight and vitamin D3 is very detrimental to the body and has been correlated with all kinds of disorders like juvenile diabetes, Parkinsons, Alzheimers, and Osteoporosis.

Worried about getting burned? The best way to to start getting adequate sun is to slowly work up over a period of days. 15 minutes, then 20, and so on until you are acclimated and not getting burned. If you want to stay out longer, wear light sunblocking clothing or use a safe sunscreen. There are numerous sunscreens on the market that may be worse for you than sun overexposure because they contain toxic ingredients that can change your hormones or cause melanoma. AOL even published a story claiming “almost half of the 500 most popular sunscreen products may actually increase the speed at which malignant cells develop and spread skin cancer.” Always check the ingredients of any product you rub into your skin, because your body absorbs it. You can check the ingredients of all cosmetics at the EWG’s Skin Deep cosmetics database.