STOP BLAMING THE SUN FOR WHAT SEED OILS ARE DOING!

Our ancestors lived under the sun. They worked, walked, hunted, gathered, and raised families beneath blue skies—without SPF 1000 slathered on their skin. Yet melanoma rates were virtually unheard of. Today, despite hiding indoors, lathering on sunscreen, and avoiding direct sunlight like it’s radioactive… skin cancer rates are soaring.

What changed?

Our diet. And more specifically: our fat sources.

Seed oils entered the modern diet in force in the 1970s—right around the same time we saw an explosion in both chronic disease and melanoma. Coincidence? We don’t think so.

1. If the Sun Causes Skin Cancer, Then Why Isn’t It Causing Skin Cancer?

Let’s break this down. If the sun was the problem, wouldn’t we see higher skin cancer rates in populations that spend more time in the sun—like farmers, surfers, or outdoor laborers?

But we don’t.

Data shows that indoor workers have higher rates of melanoma than outdoor workers. Why? Because intermittent, unprotected sun exposure—especially on seed oil-soaked skin—can damage tissue that’s no longer equipped to handle UV radiation. The real issue isn’t the sun. It’s what’s circulating inside your cells when you step into the light.

2. Old Hospitals Used to Use Sun Decks

Not long ago, sunlight was considered therapeutic. Hospitals had sun decks where patients were wheeled out to bask in the healing rays. Tuberculosis, rickets, and other chronic conditions were often treated with what doctors called “heliotherapy.”

Fast forward to today: we treat the sun like a villain. We act like one unprotected second in the sunlight will fry our skin and doom us to disease. But that fear isn’t based in ancestral wisdom—it’s rooted in bad science and worse corporate interests.

3. Vitamin D Lowers Risk of Chronic Disease

Let’s talk facts: Vitamin D is essential for immune health, hormone balance, brain function, and cancer prevention. And the best way to get it? From the sun.

Low vitamin D levels are linked to higher rates of autoimmune disease, depression, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and—you guessed it—certain cancers. Your body isn’t meant to fear the sun. It’s meant to partner with it.

And if your fat cells are full of omega-6-rich seed oils? That partnership breaks down fast.

4. Avoiding the Sun Is Just as Bad as Smoking

Shocking, right? But studies show that avoiding the sun shortens your lifespan—comparable to the effects of smoking.

In one major Swedish study of nearly 30,000 women, sun avoiders had a higher mortality rate than those who regularly sunbathed. And those who got the most sun lived the longest.

So the real risk? Isn’t sun exposure—it’s being afraid of it.

5. Skin Cancer Was Basically Nonexistent Before Seed Oils

Before industrial seed oils hit the market, melanoma was so rare it was barely on the radar. In the early 1900s, rates of melanoma were just 1 in 100,000. Today? It’s about 30 times higher.

That’s not an evolutionary fluke. That’s a massive dietary shift.

Seed oils like canola, soybean, sunflower, corn, and grapeseed are chemically extracted under high heat, oxidized before they even hit the bottle, and loaded with unstable omega-6 fatty acids. These rancid fats incorporate into your skin cells and make you more vulnerable to UV damage.

6. Sunlight Hypersensitivity: The Real Culprit

Ever wonder why some people burn just thinking about the sun while others tan effortlessly? It’s not just skin type—it’s cellular composition.

When your cells are made up of highly reactive, easily oxidized fats like linoleic acid (from seed oils), your skin becomes a ticking time bomb under UV light. These oils disrupt mitochondrial function and trigger inflammation. Translation? You burn easier, heal slower, and increase your risk of skin damage.

Your body was never meant to run on these oils. You’re not a car—and this is not the right fuel.

7. How to Tan Without Burning

You can build a healthy tan—naturally—without the burn. Here's how:

• Cut out seed oils. Give your cells time to rebuild with saturated animal fats.

• Eat nutrient-dense food. Grass-fed beef, organ meats, egg yolks, and seafood provide the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) your skin needs.

• Start slow. Ease into sun exposure—especially after winter.

• Ditch the chemical sunscreen. If you need protection, opt for mineral-based versions or use shade and clothing.

• Time it right. Aim for morning or late afternoon sun when building tolerance.

This is ancestral wisdom, not modern fear-mongering.

Closing: The Sun Isn’t the Problem—Seed Oils Are

It’s time to stop fearing the sun and start fearing the real culprits: fake foods and fake fats. Seed oils have hijacked our cells, our immune systems, and our ability to thrive under the very light that once kept us healthy and vibrant.

The solution? It’s not in a bottle. It’s not in a lab. It’s on your plate.

Nourish your body with ancestral foods. Prioritize animal fats. Spend time outside. And let your skin, your mood, and your mitochondria thank you.

Eat like your ancestors. Live like your ancestors. Thrive under the sun.

References 

1. Lindqvist, Pelle G., et al. “Avoidance of Sun Exposure Is a Risk Factor for All-Cause Mortality: Results from the MISS Cohort.” Journal of Internal Medicine, vol. 280, no. 4, 2016, pp. 375–387. doi:10.1111/joim.12496.
2. Albert, R. E., et al. “Skin Cancer in the United States: An Epidemiologic Review.” Journal of the National Cancer Institute, vol. 50, no. 4, 1973, pp. 961–971. doi:10.1093/jnci/50.4.961.
3. Bryant, Jennifer, et al. “Melanoma Incidence Trends and UV Exposure: The Influence of Indoor vs. Outdoor Occupation.” Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine, vol. 37, no. 1, 2021, pp. 24–30. doi:10.1111/phpp.12570.
4. Ramsden, Christopher E., et al. “Use of Dietary Linoleic Acid for Secondary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease and Death.” BMJ, vol. 346, 2013, f26. doi:10.1136/bmj.f26.
5. Holick, Michael F. “Vitamin D Deficiency.” New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 357, no. 3, 2007, pp. 266–281. doi:10.1056/NEJMra070553.