If you haven't heard by now, vitamin D is being touted as a major preventative treatment for all types of cancer and health issues. If you've read any number of books set in the 19th century where some wealthy person takes ill, you'll recall that the patient is usually taken out to the countryside to get some fresh air and sunshine. Turns out it was a pretty good idea.
How much does this miracle cure cost? It might seem obvious that clean air and sunshine should be free, but...
For the average American male, a good daily dose of sunlight would require 10-20 minutes with 40% of their skin exposed to some prime sunlight (somewhere between 9am-4pm). Achieving this requirement might mean that he goes shirtless outside for 15 on the front side and 15 on the backside... a total of 30 minutes.
But this is a problem. The average American Male works over 40 hours a week, and last I checked most employers discourage topless sun bathing on the job.
Supposing the average American male decided he would take 1 hour less pay, 3 days a week[1] and blend in a nice run through the park[2] with his sunbathing for ultimate health. 30 minutes to stave off heart attacks and cancer, not too bad. Add in some clean up time and the hour is up... back to work.
But with 3 hours less pay a week, the average American would take a salary cut of nearly $2,500.((http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Average_Joe)).
$2,500 for free sunlight and jogging? Who could afford that? Especially with an average salary of about $32,000/year.
That's why I've decided that although America is the wealthiest <strong>country</strong> in the world, it's citizens are some of the poorest... we can't even afford to enjoy free sunlight and a free jog in the park.
- If you can find a boss willing to let their employers do this, just let me know [↩]
- running outside also astonishingly still free [↩]
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Only from the mind of a mathematician could an analysis of sunlight cost per year come. Very interesting.
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greentheo Reply:
October 29th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
true... very true...
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My employer lets me take an hour lunch break as long as I still work my 8 hours for the day. Surprisingly though, I hardly ever make it outside for my lunch break anymore because I am so busy working.
Fortunately though, God foresaw that his people weren't going to get adequate sunlight at some times (especially during the winter months), so he gave us several food sources of vitamin D such as cod liver oil. Some people are now saying that vitamin D can even fight of a cold or the flu!
Great article!
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