Posted in Natural Health on March 5th, 2010
Tags: eldercare, helio theraphy, omega fatty acids, sunlight, vitamin d

Eldercare and the Heliotherapy sunlight connection and the need for Vitamin D and Omega Fatty acids

Part of eldercare, requires the use of either Vitamin D or sunlight through Helio Therapy and the health benefits of omega fatty acids to provide a better quality of life for seniors.

   Astronauts living on the space station receive more vitamin D than our seniors living here on earth. Without sunlight the body cannot function properly – so why are our seniors living without proper nutrition?.

Eldercare should also include the use of either Vitamin D or sunlight through Helio Therapy and the health benefits of omega fatty acids to provide a better quality of life for seniors.

Without sunlight the body cannot function.  Astronauts living on the space station receive more vitamin D than our seniors living here on earth. We need sunlight to stay healthy.

To help improve my husband’s health, I supplement Barry’s diet with vitamin D each day, and made sure he gets out of the house and into the sunshine when ever possible. When he was hospitalized, I would always slip him his vitamin D when no one was looking.

For someone who is disabled from a stroke and confined to a wheelchair, has heart disease, kidney disease, and is a diabetic, my husband, Barry is looking pretty good for someone who the doctor’s can’t understand is still living. Barry is such a cranky person when he is at home, but as soon as I get him into the sunshine he becomes a great big smiley face.

Helio therapy, the use of sunlight as a natural healing method was used by the Babylonians, Egyptians and Assyrians, Greeks, and Romans century’s ago.

In fact, life on earth depends on the sun so much so, that plants can not grow in the absence of sunlight and without plant life there would be no oxygen and, without oxygen, human and animal life could not survive.

It is important to note the difference between Helio therapy to that of excessive sun bathing and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Helio therapy uses sunlight in small amounts within healthy parameters. Excessive exposure to sunlight leads to a weakened immune system, which alters the distribution and function of white blood cells to fight disease for up to 24 hours after sun exposure.

Everyone requires at least 15 minutes of natural outdoor sunlight each day which is not filtered through a window to be absorbed directly through the skin and the retina of the eyes while not wearing glasses or contact lens. It is important to note light shining through a window is not to be used as Helio Therapy as sunlight shining through glass is cancer causing. Water on the other hand is a wonderful medium to capture the healing properties of sunlight.

A note of precaution: It should be noted, sunlight can cause eye damage to the cornea lens, and retina so it is advised never to stare directly into the sun which will damage the eyes. Always look away from the sun as sunlight has the ability to bend around corners with UV radiation able to pass though closed eye lids and into the retina. Full eye protection is required to diminish the risk of over exposure of sunlight radiation for (a) high altitudes in mountains, especially when light is reflecting off of snow and ice and (b) when near water, windows or reflective surfaces.

Why the eyes need indirect sunshine?

The retina of the eye absorbs the sunlight converting the electromagnetic signal of light into a neuron-chemical hormone which stimulates the hypothalamus, a master gland located in the brain. The hypothalamus has the important function of regulating the endocrine system of the body much like a musical conductor of an orchestra; the hypothalamus conducts the body to work harmoniously.

The endocrine system creates more than 20 major hormones which influence almost every cell and organ of the body, from regulating emotions, growth and development, tissue growth, metabolism, sexual function and reproduction. The hormone messengers can be depleted through lack of sunlight, fluid levels, minerals, and through stress, infection, and exposure to environmental toxins.

When natural sunlight is absorbed by the retina inside the eyes, the light – an electromagnetic energy – stimulates the pineal gland, also located within the brain, to regulate circadian rhythms – our day and night cycle. At night when the sun goes down the pineal gland produces the hormone melatonin, a hormone which induces sleep and supplements our immune system to heal the body. During the day, the pineal gland produces serotonin, a hormone creating uplifting, happy emotions.

It is also believed that the pineal gland is a spiritual gland; a bridge or pathway to intuitive universe knowledge. Through Helio Therapy of increasing exposure to natural unfiltered sunlight, one may become more in tune and enlightened to the ethereal side of our existence.

What is sunlight?

Sunlight also contains three types of ultraviolet radiation light, ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet C (UVC). Most of the sun’s UV radiation is filtered out before entering the earth’s atmosphere. Due to greenhouse gases depleting the earth’s protective ozone layer, higher levels of UV radiation is filtering through to the earth’s atmosphere causing an increase in skin cancer. Even though we require sun light, UVA, UVB, and UVC can damage collagen in the skin, resulting in wrinkles and discoloration. The antidote to this problem is Essential Fatty Acids, as explained below. Both UVA and UVB destroy vitamin A in the skin causing additional damage, requiring supplementation of vitamin A to protect the eyes and skin.

Most of the UVC light at this time is filtered out of the earth’s atmosphere and is of little concern to human health. For this reason sun screen and eye wear do not include UVC protection. The application of UVC is used in sterilization units as a proven method in reducing bacteria, viruses, yeast and mold.

UVA is the most dangerous UV radiation known as it has the ability to pass through windows which is strongest early in the morning and late afternoons, and has the ability to create the most deadly form of malignant melanoma. UVA can contribute towards indirect skin cancer through a chemical chain reaction of free radicals causing hydroxyl and oxygen radical damage to DNA. UVA also breaks down the very important life sustaining nutrient vitamin D within the skin obtained by the sun through UVB exposure.

Why we need UVB radiation?

Helio therapy uses the health benefits of UVB. Excessive exposure to UVB must be explored to fully understand and respect the proper use of the sun’s healing power, as over exposure to UVB radiation will cause sunburn, skin damage, eye damage, DNA damage, some forms of skin cancer, and will compromise the immune system. So keep in mind, “too much of a good thing is not a good thing!”

UVB radiation is found outdoors, as it is blocked by glass, at around solar noon and penetrates the lower layers of the epidermis, triggering the cells to release melanoytes, the body’s way to protect the skin from burning by producing melanin, the brown pigmentation caused by tanning. For this reason people with darker skin require longer sun exposure to make vitamin D.

Exposure to UVB radiation also produces valuable vitamin D3, required by the body to metabolize calcium. Sitting in the summer sun for 20 – 30 minutes will produce 10,000 IU of Vitamin D. New research has found the increase of UVA, radiation which has the ability to pass though windows destroys vitamin D promoting melanoma. It should be noted that melanoma skin cancer often shows up on areas that haven’t been damaged by the sun, which suggests sunlight exposure isn’t the only factor in skin cancer.

Vitamin D2 is a nutritional health supplement, the best source is from fish oil, and should be taken during winter months or in the case of the elderly who are not exposed to natural out door sunlight to take 5,000 IU of Vitamin D2 daily.

The health benefits of Helio Therapy is due to the effects of Vitamin D which regulates over 200 genes to maintain a healthy function of the brain, heart, kidneys, bone density, skin, intestinal health, breast, gonads, prostrate, parathyroid gland, and to activate the immune system to fight 17 different cancers, bacterial and viral infections. In addition, vitamin D helps prevent Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), diabetes by regulating insulin and helps decrease the risk of heart disease and heart attacks and stoke, lowers cholesterol and triglycerides, hypertension and helps with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, lupus and multiple sclerosis, muscle weakness and muscle wasting and helps with depression by creating endorphins, increases metabolic rate and prevents periodontal disease, enhances kidney and liver function, stimulates the production of red blood cells which in turn increases oxygen levels, increases circulation, and increases muscle tone.

Vitamin D is fat soluble and will be sequestered into fat cells to be used to some degree during sun deficient periods. This limits the amount of available vitamin D within the body, requiring obese individuals to supplement their diets with additional vitamin D2. In addition, the elderly synthesize less vitamin D3, requiring longer periods of time in the sun and additional supplementation of Vitamin D2, especially for the elderly who are home bound or institutionalized in nursing homes and hospitals.

Lower levels of Vitamin D prevents the body from assimilating calcium, resulting in the parathyroid hormone (PTH) to stimulate bone to breakdown for the body to maintain a constant supply of calcium in the blood. Over time this will result in osteoporosis and increased hip fractures in the elderly,

So how do we protect the skin from the sun’s radiation?

Sun screen reduces the skin’s ability to produce vitamin D by at least 95%, which will help reduce the effect of winkles but negates the valuable healing effects of Helio therapy. A 2005 study in the Journal of Lipid Research found that Omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFA) found in fish oil, such as anchovies and salmon, and in avocados, green leafy vegetables, soy and nuts were helpful in the prevention of wrinkles and UV carcinogenesis damage by boosting collagen and elastin production.

Always ensure fish oil capsules are manufactured by established companies who certify that their products are free of heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and cadmium as this is the easiest ways to supplement your diet with omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids should be used cautiously by people who bruise easily, have a bleeding disorder, or take blood-thinning medications or diabetics taking medications to lower blood sugar and should consult with their family doctor before taking Omega-3 fatty acids.

Living with the sun requires balance – you can’t live without the sun, nor should you abuse the benefits of the sun which should be used with respect. Sunlight helps to detoxify the body and to help make the body function harmoniously like an orchestra playing wonderful uplifting music. Everyone will benefit by becoming more in tune with the harmony of nature and to use Helio Therapy as part of their daily nutritional care. I encourage business leaders and the medical field to promote Helio Therapy as part of a healthy daily regiment for a healthier happier society.

SUMMARY:

ELDER-CARE – As part of eldercare, we must include Vitamin D and sunlight as part of a daily nutrition.

HELIO THERAPHY – We need sunlight to stay healthy.

OMEGA FATTY ACIDS –  Fsh oil, avocados, green leafy vegetables, soy and nuts prevents wrinkles and UV carcinogenesis damage.

SUNLIGHT – Contains three types of ultraviolet radiation light, ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet C (UVC).

VITAMIN D – Life sustaining nutrient vitamin D3 within the skin obtained by the sun through UVB exposure.  D2 is a nutritional health supplement, the best source is from fish oil.

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