We know a healthful diet, exercise, adequate water intake are necessary for good health but we also need to live an a clean environment, with the right kind of exposure to sunshine and pure air, free from toxic chemicals, irritant dusts, fumes and smoke of every kind.

I. Benefits of Sunshine – It provides nourishment and energy for all living things. What are the benefits of sunlight?

1. Sunshine produces vitamin D. Substantial deposits of cholesterol lie under the skin. As the ultraviolet waves in the sunlight is filtered through the skin, it changes these cholesterol deposits to vitamin D. Exposing half of the face to sunlight for 5 minutes provides 400 units of vitamin D. (US RDA equals 400 units/day)

2. Sunshine decreases blood cholesterol. By changing the cholesterol under the skin to vitamin D, this causes the body to signal the cholesterol in the blood to move out of the blood into the skin, thus producing a lower blood cholesterol.

3. Sunshine decreases blood sugar. Sunlight acts like insulin by facilitating the absorption of glucose into the cells of the body. This stimulates the body to convert its blood sugar (glucose) into stored sugar (glycogen), which is stored in the liver and muscles, thus decreasing the blood sugar.

4. Sunshine is a disinfectant and a killer of bacteria. The sun has the ability to kill pathogenic bacteria, viruses and molds. It is useful in the treatment of tuberculosis, erysipelas, blood poisoning, peritonitis, viral pneumonia, mumps and bronchial asthma. Even some cancer-producing viruses are destroyed by ultraviolet light. Fungal infections, including candida, respond to sunlight. Bacteria in the air within eight feet of an ultraviolet light are destroyed in 10 minutes.

5. Sunshine increases aerobic fitness. Sunlight is able to increase the blood’s capacity to carry oxygen and to deliver it to the tissues. This means that more oxygen is available for delivery to the muscles while exercising. Another factor which may contribute to increased aerobic fitness is that glycogen is increased in the liver and the muscles following sunbathing.

6. Sunshine helps in the building and repairing of the bones. With an increase level of vitamin D in the system due to exposure to sunlight, one is able to increase the absorption of calcium. This helps the building and repairing of the bones and prevent diseases such as rickets and osteomalacia.

7. Sunshine increases some types of immunity. Sunlight causes the white blood cells to be increased, especially lymphocytes, which are used to fight diseases. Antibodies (gamma globulins) are increased. These affects last up to 3 weeks. Neutrophiles destroy germs more rapidly after a sunlight treatment. 10 minutes of ultraviolet light one to two times weekly reduces colds 30 to 40 percent.

Yes, sunlight is certainly beneficial for us. Ideally, it is better to expose yourself to the sunlight before 9:00 am and after 4:00 pm where you fo not get the short rays. A word of caution is however needed. Sunlight can also be harmful. Prolong exposure can cause the following:

1. Sunshine cause skin to burn. Too much exposure to sunlight, even during cloudy overcast days, can cause your skin to be burnt (clouds can filter out a lot of the visible and infrared rays while letting through as much as 80% of the ultraviolet radiation). UV-B is the portion of the ultraviolet spectrum that burns the skin and only 0.2 percent of this radiant energy reaches the surface earth. A cool breeze can add to the deception.

2. Sunshine increases the risk of skin cancer. Excessive sunlight with a high blood triglyceride is the most important promoting factor in skin cancer.

3. Sunshine  speeds up the aging process. Kime, Z. R. in “Sunlight Could  save Your Life” stated that increased usage of refined vegetable (polyunsaturated) oils, causes increased presence of “free radicals” in the skin. These free radicals are portions of molecules (broken pieces) with a tendency to cause tissues damage to the outermost layer of the skin, a number one cause of premature aging – wrinkling of the skin.

A scientist covered half of a petri dish with bacteria growth on it, exposing the other half to direct sunlight. The covered part of the dish was swarming with bacteria, but nothing grew on the half exposed to the sunlight. All the bacteria had been killed. If we open wide our curtains and windows to allow the sunlight to enter our rooms, over a period of time, this sunlight will destroy the bacteria lurking in the dust on the window sill and floor, making the home a much healthier place to live.

II. The Importance of Pure Air

A. AIR is necessary for life. Man can survive without food for 7 weeks, without water for 7 days, and without air only 7 minutes. The lungs are continuously processing this air, taking in and releasing about 20,000 liters of air daily. As the air is inhaled into the lungs, the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place in the millions of alveoli, sponge-like air sacs. These alveoli are covered in a network of fine capillaries containing blood. This exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide is completed within milliseconds, and a complete circuit of blood throughout the body requires about one minute.

Air Pollution from exhaust fumes of automobiles, trucks, and airplanes, heavy industry, and some types of power plants is gradually ruining the quality of the air. However another source of air pollution that has become a serious public health problem is SMOKING.

Problems for the active smoker have been sometimes called the “ABC” effect. Some of them are:

A- Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)

B- Bronchitis (smoker’s cough) –chronic bronchitis with chronic cough dyspnea, spiting of phlegm  and mucus leading to emphysema.

C- Cancer

Smoking can cause various kinds of cancer:

30% of all cancer deaths are attributable to smoking with cigarette smoking the major cause of cancer.

Lung, trachea and bronchus 90% larynx  84%

Oral cavity (lip, tongue, pharynx)  92% esophagus  78%

Pancreas  29% bladder  47%

Kidney  48%

Problems for the passive smoker are a concern of the American Heart Association. They released a scientific paper estimating that exposure to secondhand smoke raises the risk of dying from heart disease by 30% and causes up to 40,000 deaths/year. Other dangerous effects of involuntary smoking are eye irritation, cough, headache, nasal congestion, worsening asthmatic and respiratory allergies, small airway diseases. There is a 30% risk of lung cancer. Children develop bronchitis and pheumonia. Yes, smoking  has become a public health problem as it not only harms the smokers but pollutes the air of those who do not smoke. We need to breathe pure, clean, and fresh air.

B. Quality Air promotes good health. Where can we find it? The most healthful air comes from locations by the trees or green plants or by the ocean. Formerly it was thought that good air is merely clean, dilute oxygen. Now it is becoming more and more obvious that excellent air must contain electrified oxygen produced by trees or vegetation floating in the ocean. It is estimated that the algae in the ocean provides almost 90% of the oxygen in our atmosphere, with the rest coming from plants on land.

We feel exhilarated when coming near a waterfall or by the ocean. In the mountains, where an abundance of negatively ionized air is present, resorts and vacation areas flourish. Unfortunately, air pollution and smog decrease the amount of negative ions present in the air we breathe. The negative ions in the indoor’s air are lost rapidly by adhering to metal or plastic furniture, synthetic clothing, eg. Polyester, and air conditioning ducts. Electrical appliances produce positive ions.

Therefore, efforts need to be made to breathe the naturally electrified air, for example, morning exercise in the outdoor air, thus imparting a vitality to the blood and the nervous system that cannot be achieved by scale, recirculated air going round and round in smoky rooms, congested offices and noisy factories.

Whenever possible, an air conditioning system should allow at least 10% of the air coming into the system to be fresh. This improves the level of alertness and creativity of the occupants. Another precaution would be that trees should not be cut down ruthlessly, because we are indebted to them for imparting vitality to the air.

C. Psychological Effects are seen when air pollution prevents vital oxygen entering the body. The cells most easily affected by a lack of oxygen are those of the brain, particularly the higher centers that deal with reason, will power, judgment, and emotions. People in high altitudes without sufficient oxygen often experience confusion, clumsiness and irritability. Even living in poorly ventilated homes can cause the mind to become less efficient.

The only way one can obtain oxygen is by breathing. Many people never take full advantage of their natural lung capacity. They are shallow breathers, using only the top portion of their lungs. Learning diaphragmatic breathing and good posture are the two main keys in proper breathing.

D. Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise:

1. While standing, stretch your arms high above your head.

2. Breathe in slowly, mouth closed. Normally the lower ribs will expand.

3. Expand the chest as far as possible while breathing in. At the height of inspiration, take one more whiff of air.

4. With mouth open, let all the air out while slowly bending over. Cough to get the last bit of air out.

5. Repeat 5 to 10 times every morning.

The sun is the established energy source ordained by God to sustain the cycle of life for plants and animals. Abundant in California, sunlight is supremely important for the body’s metabolism and hormonal balance.

Trust In Divine Power Directly linked to physical health (Proverbs 3:5-6), trust in God is a gift leading to right choices.