Sunny delight
Most of us know that our skin needs protection during the summer but, as JAMES MOORE reveals, the sunshine also has a positive impact on our wellbeing
Rays your spirits: Sunlight boosts levels of the feel-good hormone serotonin in our bodies, according to scientists in Australia. They found people had higher amounts on sunny days, helping battle anxiety and depression.
Healing power: A study from the University of Pittsburgh, US, linked sunlight to reducing physical pain. It can also raise our levels of sleepinducing melatonin.
Bone up: The sun helps our bodies manufacture vitamin D – you need around 15 to 30 minutes exposure a day. It’s vital for helping us absorb calcium, which is responsible for strengthening your bones. Some studies suggest it helps teeth too and it’s thought it can help lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Solar good: A Belgian study found exposure to sunlight can boost fertility by up to a third, with increased vitamin D reckoned to be a factor. The sun may also fire up immune-boosting T cells to help us fight disease.
Hot stuff: The sun can even boost your sex drive, according to researchers at the Medical University of Graz in Austria, as the rise in vitamin D has a knock-on effect on testosterone. They found an hour’s exposure increases the hormone levels by 69% in men.
Pressure’s off: Around a third of us have high blood pressure, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. But a study from the University of Southampton found that exposure to UVA light for 20 minutes dilates the blood vessels through nitric oxide, significantly lowering blood pressure. It can help lower harmful cholesterol too.
Tum luck: Sunshine may also aid weight control, as there’s some
evidence to show that it can suppress appetite. In tests on mice, scientists at Edinburgh University also found it might slow weight gain. Take a peep: Experts in Australia connected spending lots of time indoors to eyesight problems. It’s thought sunshine helps the retina boost dopamine levels to combat eye issues. You should never look directly at the sun, though.
Face facts: While UV rays are responsible for around 80% of our wrinkles, small amounts may help ease skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.