A It’s certainly true that some scientists are beginning to come
round to the view that sunlight has many health-giving
qualities, but the general consensus is still that the sun’s
rays are harmful - after all, they can cause malignant melanoma,
or skin cancer. It’s a position that goes against the body of
evidence going back to the early 1940s that suggests that
regular exposure to sunlight can be protective against many
cancers, including those of the breast, colon, ovaries and
prostate (Cancer Res, 1995; 55: 4014-22). Sunshine may also
prevent diabetes, multiple sclerosis (Toxicology, 2002; 181:
71-8; Lancet, 2001; 358: 1476-8), heart disease, osteoporosis
and psoriasis. For those of us living in sun-starved northern
climes, we need to either supplement with vitamin D, cod liver
oil or omega-3 fatty acids, or eat more oily fish, such as tuna
and salmon (Neurology, 2004; 62: 60-5). But the least-favoured
alternative is to lie on a sunbed under ultraviolet-A (UVA)
radiation. In the first place, it’s emitting