Sun Tanning Beds – Why Some Doctor’s Are Recommending Sun Tanning Beds For Vitamin D

Before we start, I’d like to point out that I’m NOT a doctor. If you’d like some information directly from a highly respected doctor who has done the research referenced below, please visit Mercola.com.

That said…

According to reports, a doctor at Boston University (who’s also a professor) says that when tanning beds are used in moderation they can be a good substitute for natural sunlight to help your body produce essential Vitamin D.

While he doesn’t directly endorse tanning salons, this is quite interesting given all the recent bad press about sun tanning beds. Dr. Joseph Mercola, the web famous doc behind Mercola.com, and a huge proponent of the benefits of Vitamin D also encourages sun tanning beds in moderation for aiding your body’s natural Vitamin D production. He even has a new line of sun tanning beds for sale on his website, which you can check out here.

Their recommendations stem from research that suggests that approximately 75% (Harvard reports the number to be 77%) of Americans are Vitamin D deficient, leaving them vulnerable to diseases such as osteoporosis, osteopenia, heart disease, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, chron’s disease, and 17 different types of cancer (including breast, prostate, and colon).

Interesting right? But in many ways it makes sense. Humans evolved in the sun, but when we moved to colder winter climates where getting enough sunlight became out of the question, we started to become deficient in Vitamin D, and autoimmune diseases have plagued us since. While there is no doubt that sunburns and too much exposure to the sun are not good for you, could getting your UVA and UVB rays from a tanning bed in moderation be so bad for you?

The World Health Organization classified sun tanning beds in the same category as mustard gas, plutonium, arsenic and cigarettes. It’s almost a wonder they don’t say don’t go outside! Keep in mind that also classified in this category are red wine, beer, and salted fish and oral contraceptives.

I’ve read that humans produce 10,000 to 20,000 international units of Vitamin D in 10 minutes exposure to the sun without sunburn. Same in a tanning bed. So what’s wrong with getting your dose there? I guess it’s up to each of you to decide.

For more information on this subject, check out this short video at Mercola.com.