Why are Rates of Skin Cancer Rising at an Alarming Rate?
There is no doubt that skin cancer is rampant. It is by far the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer. In fact, current research suggests that one in every five people will develop some form of skin cancer in their lifetime. But consider the following...
When looking at causes of skin cancer before the 1930s, skin cancer was rare. Since that time, the incidence of melanoma has gone up 1,800%. In just the last 30 years, the death rate from melanoma has increased more than fourfold, while the incidence of all types of skin cancer has more than doubled.
Does Sunlight Really Cause Skin Cancer?
Our sun is billions of years old. It's not likely that the risk related to the sun's rays could have suddenly changed in the last 80 years. Nor do we spend more time in the sun than we used to. In fact, we spend far less time outdoors today than any other time in history. At the start of the twentieth century, more than 75% of people in the U.S. worked outdoors. Today, only 10% of the population works outside.
And not only do we spend less time in the sun, but in the last 30 years, the use of sunscreen has increased by orders of magnitude. Sunscreens are now a $6 billion-a-year industry.
What Really Causes Skin Cancer?
We have become far more vulnerable to all types of cancer, including skin cancer because of alterations that have occurred in the human diet. Science has proven that some foods can promote skin cancer. As a population, we now eat these foods in great abundance. On the other hand, there are other foods that strongly prevent skin cancer. Unfortunately, we now consume far too few of these foods. Sunlight is simply a co-promoter of skin cancer that comes into play after our natural defenses have been compromised.
How Sunlight and Vitamin D Cause Cancer Cells to Self-Destruct
Lab studies have also shown that vitamin D (which is highly protective against internal cancers) is protective against melanoma. In several studies, vitamin D was shown to cause melanoma cells to self-destruct. Surprisingly, moderate sun exposure was also shown to DOUBLE the survival rates of those suffering from the disease. The more common (though less dangerous) forms of skin cancer - basal cell and squamous cell - are more closely associated with sun exposure than melanoma. But as you will see, the sun is merely a co promoter of skin cancer. It is our poor diet and nutritional deficiencies that make our skin prone to damage from UV rays.
The Dietary Connection to Skin Cancer
At the beginning of the 1900s there were almost no vegetable oils in our diet. Vegetable oil is rich in omega-6's. Instead, our diet was rich in healthy saturated and omega-9 fats from protein sources, avocadoes, olives, nut and seeds. Today, the average American consumes 70 pounds of vegetable fat annually. We are not designed to eat these fats in such large quantities.
The problem with abundant omega-6s displacing other healthier fats in our cells is that these fats are highly unstable. They are extremely susceptible to oxidative stress, especially in the skin, where they are exposed daily to UV light. Saturated fats and omega-9 fats are more stable when exposed to UV light thereby decreasing the amount of free radical production when sunlight hits your skin.
Numerous studies have shown that polyunsaturated fats (omega-6's) stimulate cancer while saturated fats do not. Studies have also shown that saturated fats do not break down to form free radicals as polyunsaturated fats do. Therefore, the result of having too much vegetable, corn, and soybean oil in your diet is that your skin will sunburn faster and more intensely and you will be more prone to free radical production and skin cancer.
A lack of antioxidant-rich foods has increased our risk of skin cancer.
Research also shows that low consumption of fruits and vegetables increases your skin cancer risk. This should come as no surprise. Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants and the role of antioxidants in the protection against many forms of cancer has been clearly established.
And in the case of skin cancer, the colorful plant pigments known as carotenoids are especially protective. These compounds are literally, "Mother Nature's sunblock." When you consume carotenoids they are deposited in your skin, where they provide protection against sunburn and skin damage. The leading sources of carotenoids are orange and yellow fruits (oranges, tangerines and lemons, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe and carrots), spirulina, chlorella, tomatoes, and dark green leafy vegetables (kale, collards, and spinach).
These nutrients are also powerful antioxidants that scavenge for free radicals and repair cells that might become damaged. In other words, they reflect and protect, forming a physical barrier and a nutritional barrier against skin damage.
