Grabbing just 30 seconds of sunlight every morning could slash the chances of developing most types of cancer by as much as 80%, early research by one of the UK’s leading specialists suggests. Less than half a minute’s exposure to the sun’s near-infrared (NIR) light between sunrise and 9am may offer a higher level of protection to adults and children than eating 2,500 bananas or a kilogram of Brazil nuts per day, according to Dr Mohammad Muneeb Khan.
Stepping outside during these times could cut the odds of developing the disease from a one in two chance to one in ten, making it a more effective inhibitor than any other single preventative measure. NIR light, which is invisible to the human eye, is at its most effective at dawn, with its beneficial effect gradually waning throughout the day as the human body becomes less responsive to it.
Absorbing it in the early morning prompts the body into releasing a flood of melatonin, a natural antioxidant twice as powerful as Vitamin E, that neutralises toxins and prevents cancer-causing gene mutations. Exposure to NIR light at any other time of day still leads to melatonin production but in insufficient quantities to adequately repair and protect cells.
