The UV Advantage

A Book Review

The UV Advantage is an excellent healthy living reference book. Dr. Holick has done a fantastic job explaining the benefits and risks associated with UV exposure. Empowering the reader to make safe and sound decisions when it comes to using UV light for day to day health and well-being.

In his book Dr. Holick challenges us to re-think our fear of the sun, to consider where that fear originates from and to ask ourselves if that fear is founded on fact or fallacy (see insert). He argues the fear and hysteria over sunlight exposure is a result of well funded anti-sun lobby groups encouraging us to cover-up with sunscreen every time we go outdoors. These same groups use the excuse that sunlight causes skin cancer, therefore any and all exposure to sunlight is bad. In the book Dr. Holick responds to such ridiculous claims with an equally ridiculous claim: water causes drowning so don't drink water! The truth is, these anti-sun lobbyists have much to gain by leading us to believe we need constant sun protection; it isn't a secret that the cosmetic industry makes millions every year selling all types of sun protection products.

The UV Advantage, Facts & Fallacies Fallacies Any and all sun exposure causes skin cancer. Sun exposure is main cause of melanoma. We are in the midst of a skin cancer epidemic. Skin cancer risks are going up solely because more people are sun bathing. There's no such thing as a safe tan. Tanning is like smoking to your skin. Facts Sun exposure may actually prevent (internal) cancers. Cancer-wise the benefits of sun exposure out weight the risks.

Dr. Holick isn't claiming prolonged unprotected exposure to sunlight is safe. In fact he openly admits in the book that over exposure to sunlight is a precursor to non-melanoma skin cancer and pre-mature aging. Instead he's simply promoting the idea that moderate UV exposure is vital for human life. So much so, that cancer-wise the benefits of sun exposure out weight the risks.

The benefit of sunlight, as Dr. Holick explains in the book, is the Vitamin D which is produced when our skin is exposed to UVB radiation. Vitamin D has been linked to many health benefits. In some medical circles sunlight is known as a wonderdrug, providing immunity to heart attack, stroke, osteoporosis, as well as deadly internal cancers including: prostate, breast, and colon. Sunlight has also been shown to lower blood pressure, ward off heart attacks, and hypertension. As well sunlight helps to build and maintain bone density by promoting calcium absorption, regulate mood (circadian rhythms), and reduce depression associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS).

Dr. Holick goes on to explain, in very easy to understand terms, how vitamin D is processed and regulated by the body. He then discusses some of the more serious illnesses and explains how healthy levels of vitamin D can possibly cure, prevent, or aid various health conditions. Some of these conditions Dr. Holick discusses in detail include, osteoporosis, osteomalacia (commonly misdiagnosed for fibromyalgia), rickets, breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis.

The message Dr. Holick is trying to deliver is this, sunlight is natural for human health, as are food, water oxygen, and exercise. In the final chapter of The UV Advantage Dr. Holick talks about "The Holick Formula For Safe Sun"; where, depending on your skin type he makes recommendations for safe, un-protected sun exposure. Such sun exposure is intended solely for the purpose of maintaining healthy vitamin D levels.

In summary, I found this book to be very enlightening. For a change it's nice to see a well researched, well documented, and well delivered message informing people of the benefits of UV. The UV Advantage does an excellent job separating fact from fallacy and addressing the concerns people have regarding sun exposure. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in maintaining good health and well being. The sun is an important part of our lives, and lately too many of us have been hiding from it on the basis of unfounded fears which have been delivered through the media by powerful anti-sun lobby groups. If such anti-sun hysteria continues it will certainly be to the detriment of our health.