by Brenda Adams

Created on: August 10, 2007

I do think that people in this country have a tendency to take things too far. Sunscreen is no exception. The sun is the giver of life to all things on this planet. Humans are no different. Everything must use the sun and it's rays (yes, the UVA and UVB ones too) to sustain life. Take plants for example, without sunlight, they die. We are no different. Our bodies use the suns rays to produce vitamin D. A vitamin that is vital in the development and health of our immune systems. Without a healthy immune system, we are susceptible to disease. That means all disease, everything from a cold to aggressive cancers.

While I do believe that anything in excess can be harmful to the body, there is a such thing as being over protective. Did you know that you can actually die from drinking too much water? Well, you can. So, given that information, would you stop drinking water all together? Of course not, because you know that your body has to have a certain amount in order for you to live. So what's so different about the sun? Sure, too much is harmful, and can even prove to be deadly. However, sunshine in moderation is good for and even required by our bodies. So why have we run screaming in fear from the sun? The media and our dermatologists have scared the hell out of us.

Let the kids go out and play for a little while without swimming in SPF 50. If you're taking them to the beach, go ahead, apply that sunscreen. You don't want them to be over exposed. But at some point, a little bit of sunshine has to be able to get in. You make sure they wear their seat belts and say their prayers before bed. Protect them and their immune systems with just a little sunshine. I am not saying throw out the sunscreen. It has it's place. I'm just saying that this whole sunscreen thing has gone a little far. We all need to trust Mother Nature and God a little bit more. They've been at this way longer than we have.

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