Immense benefits of sunlight to your well-being
Summer is most definitely on its way; and with that comes a stronger, brighter sun (as much as we East Londoners would beg to differ with all the overcast days we have been having).
With brighter, sunnier days ahead of us, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss the immense benefits of sunlight exposure.
Have you ever noticed that you feel a bit down and depressed during winter when the weather has been gloomy for a couple of days? I know that I often do!
Don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong with you, this could be due to low serotonin levels.
Sun exposure actually boosts the serotonin levels in your brain which make you feel energised, calm, positive and happy. Doctors often prescribe light exposure to people suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and other types of depression.
Without enough vitamin D our bones can become brittle (this is especially true in children).
The sun’s rays enable our bodies to make more vitamin D. It also enables you to absorb and make use of minerals like calcium and phosphorus.
Vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus are a powerhouse as they work together to strengthen your bones (as well as your teeth and nails).
A Spanish study shows that women who seek the sun have one-eleventh the hip fracture risk of those who avoid the sun. Small doses of direct sunlight can help ease symptoms of certain skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis and vitiligo.
Please take note, these benefits are seen with small, safe doses of sunlight. Do not over expose yourself to the sun. Always wear sunblock and try to avoid direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm.
How much exposure is enough? Scientists generally think between five and 15 minutes is enough to reap the benefits (up to 30 minutes if you are dark skinned). Any longer (or longer without the use of sunscreen) could then, consequently, end up causing possible health problems.
Sunlight can even kill bacteria. Think about when Covid-19 was at its peak, can you remember what one of the treatment methods was? Yes, direct sunlight for 10-15 minutes a day.
The ultraviolet rays from the sun have disinfectant properties which can help kill bacteria.
We all know that certain strains of cancer are caused by overexposure to the sun. However, could the sun be linked to reducing your risk of other types of cancer?
Some studies show that men who work outdoors have half the risk of melanoma as those who work indoors.
Women who avoid the sun have 10 times the risk of breast cancer as those who embrace the sun.
It is important to know how much is too much sun. It is clear avoiding the sun completely could actually be detrimental to one; however, don’t take these stats as an excuse to throw caution to the wind and spend hours in the sun without any sunscreen or protection.
Be wise about it, always apply sunscreen and know that the benefits of the sun can be seen after small doses of exposure.
Sunlight has also been said to reduce your blood pressure. Sunlight exposure releases a compound called nitric oxide and this is what is responsible for reducing your blood pressure in the circulatory system.
A study was conducted using UVA rays in mice and they observed a decrease in blood pressure.
Thereby, the sun can improve your cardiac health. Sunlight improves your quality of sleep. Your eyes require light exposure, as this enables them to set your body’s internal clock. Scientists have noted that early morning light exposure is particularly linked to better sleep at night. This becomes more important as we age.
Through this benefit of higher quality of sleep, sunlight exposure can also indirectly improve your muscle recovery.
So, through this, we can definitely see that sunlight is important for so much more than just a summer tan.
The benefits are immense; just be sure to stay safe when exposed for longer periods.