Monday, September 15, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

Health expert: Sunlight more important for health than previously thought

Published 10 June 2024
– By Editorial Staff
If you avoid burning yourself, there is no danger, says the health professional.
6 minute read

Nutritionist Fredrik Paulún, author of The Light Revolution (Ljusrevolutionen), says there are many serious misconceptions about the sun. One of the best things you can do for your health, Paulún says, is to make sure you get enough sunlight.

– We shouldn’t burn ourselves, but we should be in the sun as much as possible, he says.

Here are Paulún’s best tips and observations for the sunniest months of the year.

Fredrik Paulún is perhaps one of Sweden’s best-known health profiles and a trained nutritionist. In The Light Revolution, he describes how the sun, and especially light, is directly vital to us. While elsewhere people are often encouraged to sunbathe cautiously, he argues instead that people in Sweden today generally have a sun or light deficiency and should make sure they get much more sunlight.

Among other things, he explains that endorphins are produced when sunlight hits the skin, which he believes shows that the sun is beneficial to humans. What we are naturally attracted to is often based on the production of endorphins, and Paulún says it is perfectly logical to assume that the sun is necessary for human survival. According to the health expert, the sun’s bad reputation is “completely undeserved” and is at least as important for health as exercise and a good diet.

Sick without sun

Paulún believes that the sun has a positive effect on the entire body system, from the brain to the organs. In particular, it increases the energy production of the body’s mitochondria, whose function is to convert energy from food. “A lot of diseases have a ‘bone’ in poor mitochondrial function”, says the health expert.

– Without mitochondria, we’re screwed, he says in the podcast Health for the Unhealthy (Hälsa för ohälsosamma).

Paulún believes that the advice to avoid the sun is actually making us sick. Among other things, he points to a large number of studies that have been done comparing where you live on Earth, where latitude 0 is the equator, and it has been found that, for example, the autoimmune disease MS is almost non-existent at the equator, in other words, where there is a lot of sun. The disease increases the further away you are from the equator, where, for example, Sweden is quite affected by the disease.

The same goes for high blood pressure, which according to the health profile is more prevalent in countries further from the equator, where there is less sun. This is partly because the sun stimulates the production of nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, mortality rates during the winter months are reported to be about 25% higher in countries far from the equator.

Sun avoidance as bad as smoking

Lack of sunlight can also contribute to increased body weight. Paulún also says that the risk of autoimmune diseases in particular is significantly reduced by getting enough sun, and that those who suffer from them can improve their symptoms by getting plenty of sun.

According to the profile, other research suggests that avoiding the sun carries the same risk of premature death as smoking. According to other research, after 20 years of sun exposure, people are generally 40% less likely to die from all forms of cancer.

The sun also stimulates the immune system, which reduces the risk of respiratory infections. Paulún points out that the sun also has a big practical impact when it comes to COVID, saying that in Sweden, people with darker skin are more affected by the disease because they have a higher need for sunlight.

– We now know that the sun also had a great impact on how severely ill people became from covid, for example, many people with darker skin died. This is a very important aspect when we talk about human health. We have different sun needs.

No sun protection factor

A large number of researchers and experts believe that sun protection is essential, and preferably as high a factor as possible. Dermatologist Petra Kjellman, for example, recently advised Swedish state broadcaster SVT to use at least SPF 30 or 50 during the summer.

However, Paulún argues that sunscreens can actually increase the risk of skin cancer because they remove the natural instinct to retreat from the sun. For example, a large study involving 50 regions and countries found that the more UV light you get without sunscreen, the less likely you are to develop the skin cancer malignant melanoma.

– Because it protects us, it is a hormetic stressor. It is simply a repair of the skin cells, he says.

He also points out that some sunscreens contain chemicals and endocrine disruptors that are absorbed into the skin. He says that while sunscreen protects against burning, it doesn’t protect against things like cancer or sun-induced wrinkles.

– Wearing sunscreen in Sweden is terrible, he says.

On the other hand, Paulún admits that he might use sunscreen on extremely rare occasions, it might be a bit on the nose when he goes out to sea. Otherwise, he avoids it altogether.

Sunbathe smart

Although natural sunlight is beneficial to health, too much UV radiation can cause damage to biological tissues. This can lead to sun damage, increased risk of malignant melanoma and skin aging. Paulún also mentions a study of 29,000 Swedish women in the southern part of the country. The women were divided into non-tanners, moderate tanners and active tanners. The women who were active tanners had a 1.1% risk of developing malignant melanoma, while the non-tanners had a 0.8% risk – in other words, a very small margin. However, the study found that the mortality rate was lower among active tanners than among non-tanners. For those who did not sunbathe, the mortality rate for skin cancer was nearly 36%, compared to only 11% for active sunbathers.

However, it is important not to get too much sun and not to burn yourself, Paulún emphasizes. “What you should focus on is building up a good tan, then you will not burn so easily. If you build up a good tan, you have protection equivalent to about 10 to 15 SPF”, he says. It is also important to be logical and sunbathe in moderation, get out of the sun if you get too much, and wear a hat and protective clothing. Have children wear UV protective clothing and a hat or cap.

– UV light just makes us feel good, says Fredrik. It is important. But we can also burn ourselves. So it’s important to find the right balance.

Morning sun the best

The most beautiful part of the day is the morning, according to Paulún. The sun is low and the UV light is filtered in the atmosphere, so almost nothing reaches you. At the same time, your body wakes up in the morning and your eyes get light. The sunlight is also milder in the evenings.

The sun is strongest during the day and if you want to avoid burning, it is probably best to sit in the shade or indoors if you are in even warmer latitudes such as Australia.

Vitamin D

UV light triggers the production of vitamin D, and Paulún says research suggests that naturally produced levels of the vitamin and high sun exposure are linked to the same health effects. However, supplements of the vitamin do not have the same effects. Studies show that vitamin D supplements reduce mortality from all causes in humans, but do not protect against diseases such as Alzheimer’s and type 2 diabetes. The health profile says that supplements can’t replace light, and if you have low levels of the vitamin, you probably don’t get enough sun.

Red light in winter

In Sweden there are few hours of sunshine during the winter, but Paulún still encourages people to try to get sun on their skin on the days when it is available. However, red light lamps can also be used in winter as a dietary supplement, which he strongly advocates.

In his book, Paulún explains that the sun emits electromagnetic radiation, which includes different forms of light, including ultraviolet (UV), in different wavelengths. The sun emits light in all the colors of the rainbow, but when all the wavelengths are mixed, the light looks white, for example, you can often see more red light in the evening, then you can often see more blue light during the day.

The red light, according to the health profile, is the one that produces the most biological effects. Red light lamps are available for home use and are also used in treatments. Paulún himself has a red light lamp at home that he routinely sits in front of for about 15 minutes every morning.

Fredrik Paulún

Photo: AndreasArgirakis/CC BY-SA 3.0

Nutritionist and writer, born July 20, 1970, who frequently appears on television, in newspapers and on radio programs. Paulún is also known for introducing Swedes to the now famous GI diet.

Paulún's brand was launched in Sweden in 2005, but since 2010 it has been owned by Orkla Foods Sverige AB.

He has written about 20 books on nutrition and health, including 50 Shortcuts to a Sugar-Free Life, The Truth About GI and LCHQ. His latest book, The Light Revolution (Ljusrevolutionen), was published last year.

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Thousands of Swedes unaware of their high blood pressure

Published yesterday 8:29
– By Editorial Staff
Nine out of ten Swedes are expected to be affected by hypertension at some point during their lifetime.
2 minute read

Every other person with high blood pressure lacks knowledge of their diagnosis. Therefore, new national guidelines are now being developed.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is very common and it is estimated that nine out of ten Swedes will be affected by it at some point during their lifetime. Having high blood pressure means a higher risk of heart attack and stroke, among other conditions.

Today, approximately three million Swedes are estimated to suffer from it, but half don’t know about it. Women run a higher risk of being affected by cardiovascular diseases linked to lower blood pressure levels compared to men, yet despite this, 40 percent of women aged 35 to 49 are unaware of their blood pressure values, according to a report from the Swedish Heart-Lung Association earlier this year.

One in three Swedes don’t know their values, something that Mattias Brunström, associate professor of epidemiology at Umeå University in northern Sweden and chairman of the national working group for hypertension, believes needs to change.

If we could catch more people, we would avoid 30,000 cases of heart attack, stroke and heart failure in Sweden annually, he tells TT.

New guidelines

New guidelines will be presented in Sweden during the autumn. Today, the so-called blood pressure target is 140/90 mmHg (millimeters of mercury), but will be lowered to 130/80.

It’s important to clarify that we’re not changing the threshold for what constitutes high blood pressure. What’s changing is that blood pressure should be treated to lower levels than today, says Brunström, who has been involved in developing the new guidelines.

Furthermore, doctors will also be recommended to prescribe two medications directly to be able to lower blood pressure faster.

High blood pressure rarely has any symptoms, which is why many people walk around with it without knowing about it. However, one can experience symptoms such as headaches and fatigue, but the only way to be sure is to regularly check your blood pressure.

The Swedish Heart-Lung Association recommends that people under 40 check their blood pressure at least every three years, and thereafter should do so annually.

Through regular check-ups, one can detect early the need for support for lifestyle changes, medical treatment, or both, says Anders Åkesson, chairman of the Swedish Heart-Lung Association, in a press release.

Study: Ultra-processed food impacts men’s reproductive ability

Published 13 September 2025
– By Editorial Staff
In just three weeks, the health of young Danish men deteriorated markedly, a new study shows.
2 minute read

Just three weeks of ultra-processed food is enough to worsen young men’s sperm quality and testosterone levels, shows a new study from the University of Copenhagen. The men also gained weight compared to when they ate regular food – despite identical calorie intake.

Ultra-processed food is, in short, food that is industrially manufactured and contains a range of different ingredients, and is often a large part of especially Western diets today. Everything from bread, cereals, protein powder to candy, chips and ready meals can be classified as ultra-processed food. Previous studies have linked ultra-processed food to cardiovascular disease, depression, weight gain as well as nutritional deficiency.

Three weeks is enough

In the study, which was published in Cell Metabolism, 43 Danish men between 25 and 30 years old participated. First, the men ate only ultra-processed food for three weeks, then followed three weeks with minimally processed food. Both diets contained the same amount of carbohydrates, protein, fat and calories – the only difference was the degree of processing. Some of the men received a calorie intake adapted to their weight, while others received a surplus of about 500 calories. Between the two diets, the men had a 12-week break where they ate their usual diet.

The results show clear health deteriorations after the period with ultra-processed food, compared to when they ate less processed food. The men gained about one kilogram in body fat and their cardiovascular health deteriorated – regardless of which calorie intake they had. Additionally, the men had worse sperm quality and their testosterone levels dropped.

We are shocked by the results, says one of the researchers behind the study, Romain Barrés, professor at the University of Copenhagen at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research to forskning.no and continues:

It’s really alarming to think about what happens if you eat such food year after year. The consequences can be serious and chronic.

The study supports previous research that points to ultra-processed food potentially being harmful to health, but also strengthens the hypothesis that this type of food contains calories that are more fat-forming compared to home-cooked food. The researchers now hope that the study will influence politicians when they make decisions about diet and health for Danes.

These products, which harm our health, are everywhere in our supermarkets, says Barrés.

Study: More health problems at higher radiation levels

Published 12 September 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The most common symptoms were fatigue, headaches, increased irritability, sleep problems and anxiety.
2 minute read

People exposed to higher levels of microwave radiation report more health symptoms, shows a new Indian study. The correlation was particularly clear for fatigue, headaches and sleep problems.

The study, which was published in Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, examined 183 people between 18 and 80 years old who had lived in the same home for at least one year in the city of Shillong in northeastern India. Researchers from Mizoram University in India measured microwave radiation in each residence and then divided participants into three groups based on the measured values.

The first group had the lowest levels (0–3,000 μW/m²) and included 43 participants. The second group had medium levels (3,000–5,000 μW/m²) with 49 participants, while the third and largest group had the highest levels (5,000–8,000 μW/m²) with 91 participants.

All participants answered a questionnaire about over 20 different symptoms.

The results showed that people in the highest exposure group reported significantly more health problems than the other groups. Even the medium group reported more symptoms than the lowest group. The researchers also discovered that people under 40 years old reported more inflammation-related symptoms.

Clearer symptoms among heavy phone users

The most common symptoms in the most exposed group were fatigue, headaches, increased irritability, sleep problems and anxiety. The symptoms were also more pronounced among people who used mobile phones more than five hours per day or lived within 50 meters of a base station.

To put the results in perspective: the Swedish reference value from the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority is 10 million μW/m², which means that all levels in the study were at least 1,250 times below this value.

The researchers concluded that exposure level was the only factor that affected the number of symptoms for all four examined health categories. The study confirms previous research that has linked health effects to radiation from mobile base stations. According to the Swedish Radiation Protection Foundation, fatigue, headaches and sleep problems are particularly common symptoms among people who live near 5G towers.

British cardiologist links royal family cancer cases to covid vaccine

The criticized covid vaccinations

Published 8 September 2025
– By Editorial Staff
According to Aseem Malhotra, it is "highly likely that the COVID vaccines have been a significant factor in the cancer cases among members of the royal family".
3 minute read

The vaccine-skeptical cardiologist Aseem Malhotra caused major controversy when he assessed during Reform UK’s conference that experimental covid vaccines were “highly likely” to have been a significant factor behind cancer diagnoses among members of the British royal family.

During his speech at the party conference in Birmingham on Saturday, Dr. Aseem Malhotra delivered extensive criticism of mRNA vaccines. The British cardiologist, who is a close friend and advisor to the US vaccine-skeptical health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., spoke to delegates on the conference’s final day.

Malhotra argued that hundreds of studies have shown harm from mRNA vaccines and that these affect people’s genes in a damaging way.

— It may be a risk factor for cancer. Many other doctors feel the same way, he said from the stage at the conference venue, linking the same vaccines to illness cases within the royal family.

— It’s highly likely that the Covid vaccines have been a factor, a significant factor, in the cancer of members of the royal family, he continued.

“No one should have been injected”

During the 15-minute speech, the doctor also argued that the covid vaccine was significantly more likely to cause serious harm than the virus itself.

— What does that mean? It is highly likely that not a single person should have been injected with this.

Malhotra also directed criticism at the World Health Organization WHO, which he claimed had been “captured” by Microsoft founder and vaccine lobbyist Bill Gates. He called for the organization to be replaced by a better and more functional system.

— Nobody is immune to medical misinformation, he proclaimed during the speech.

“Dangerous extremism”

Several British cancer organizations have distanced themselves from Malhotra’s comments, including Cancer Research UK and Blood Cancer UK, which state that there are no controlled studies showing increased cancer risk after covid-19 vaccination.

Britain’s health secretary Wes Streeting has also reacted very strongly to the statements and demands that Reform’s party leader Nigel Farage distance himself from the speaker.

— When we are seeing falling numbers of parents getting their children vaccinated, and a resurgence of disease we had previously eradicated, it is shockingly irresponsible for Nigel Farage to give a platform to these poisonous lies, Streeting thundered.

The minister urges Farage to apologize and “sever all ties with this dangerous extremism”.

A spokesperson for Reform UK notes, however, that Malhotra was invited as a guest speaker and has the right to his own opinions – even if the party does not share them.

— Dr Aseem Malhotra is a guest speaker with his own opinions who has an advisory role in the US government. Reform UK does not endorse what he said but does believe in free speech, the spokesperson explains.

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