It’s that (marvellous!) time of the year again here in the UK, when the days start getting longer and the days (mostly) get warmer. We had an amazing weekend before Easter where it got up to 25C – although it was a bit hot, not used to that kind of heat this early in the year! When we get unexpectedly lovely weather like that this time of year, we like to joke about it “that was ‘summer’ so I hope you made the most of it” but we’ll see, you never know what you’re going to get with the Great British Summer. In London, the presence of sunlight in this wonderful city completely lifts everyone’s mood and makes it a much happier place.
Sunlight is so important to us as, along with plants, we absorb and metabolise the sun’s rays. However, the relationship between sun exposure and health in people isn’t as straightforward as we might want it to be. When it comes to how our bodies metabolise sunlight, our genes, skin type, the timing and duration of sun exposure are all crucial factors.
That being said, a number of scientists suggest that the health benefits of moderate sun exposure may, in fact, outweigh the risks.
10 Awesome Health Benefits of Sunlight:
1. Sun exposure lowers blood pressure
In a landmark study, a group of researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that a compound called nitric oxide that helps lower blood pressure is released into the blood vessels as soon as sunlight touches the skin. This finding was important because until then it was thought that sunlight’s only health benefits to humans were to stimulate the production of vitamin D. The benefits of lower blood pressure include cutting the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
2. Sun exposure improves bone health
It is a well-known fact that vitamin D stimulates the absorption of bone-strengthening calcium and phosphorus in the body. However, emerging research also indicates there is a direct correlation between bone density and vitamin D3. When you have higher levels of vitamin D3 in your blood, you are at a lower risk of suffering fractures of virtually all types. This is why sun exposure is especially important for bone health in older adults.
3. Sun exposure improves brain function
Aside from promoting bone health and regulating vital calcium levels, scientists have now linked vitamin D with a number of functions throughout the body, including the functioning of the brain. One study found that cognitive function reduced the lower the subjects’ vitamin D levels were. However, more studies have found sunlight could help spur nerve cell growth in the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for forming, organising and storing of memories.
4. Sun exposure eases mild depression
Sunlight deprivation can cause a condition called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is a form of depression common in the winter months. It is also common in people who work long hours in office buildings and hardly get out for some sun. Moderate sun exposure, however, increases levels of natural antidepressants in the brain that can actually help relieve this and other forms of mild depression. That’s because on sunny days the brain produces more serotonin, a mood-lifting chemical, than on darker days.
5. Sun exposure improves sleep quality
When sunlight hits our eyes, a message is sent to the pineal gland in the brain and production of melatonin (a hormone that makes us drowsy and helps us sleep) is shut down until the sun goes down again. Your body gets a clear signal that it’s no longer night and this helps to maintain a normal circadian rhythm. When it gets dark outside, your body gets the signal again and you feel tired and drowsy at bedtime. Low levels of melatonin production at night due to overproduction during the day has been linked to poor sleep quality, especially in older adults. Ditch the sunglasses early in the morning when you wake up if possible so your body gets the message that it is day and triggers the pineal gland to stop releasing melatonin.
6. Sun exposure lessens Alzheimer’s symptoms
Clinical research has shown Alzheimer’s patients who are exposed to the sun throughout the day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. followed by darkness at night score better on mental exams and improve some aspects of the disease. For example, one study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that Alzheimer’s patients exposed to bright light had fewer symptoms of depression, nighttime wakefulness, agitation and lost less function than those exposed to dim daytime lighting. The researchers attributed these improvements to more regular circadian rhythms.
7. Sun exposure heals some skin disorders
Sunlight promotes healing of skin disorders, such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, jaundice and other fungal skin infections. In one study, for example, a four-week outdoor sunbathing therapy was successfully used to significantly clear symptoms of psoriasis in 84% of subjects. While sun exposure has a therapeutic effect on the skin and sunlight has been successfully used to treat skin disorders, this alternative treatment method should be done under medical supervision to prevent negative side-effects of UV radiation and to ensure the benefits outweigh the risks.
8. Sun exposure boosts growth in children
This benefit is especially true for infants. Studies reveal the amount of sun exposure in the first few months of a baby’s life has an effect on how tall the child grows. Many cultures around the world recognise this fact and expose children to mild sun to boost growth and height.
9. Sun exposure enhances the immune system
Sun exposure can help suppress an overactive immune system, which could explain why sunlight is used to treat autoimmune diseases like psoriasis. And since white blood cells increase with sun exposure and they play a key role in fighting diseases and defending the body against infection, moderate sun exposure is very helpful for your immune system.
10. Sun exposure reduces risk of certain cancers
Vitamin D deficiency increases your risk of many cancers, especially breast and colon cancer. However, eating whole foods and getting some sun can send breast cancer into remission. This connection was first made by Drs. Frank and Cedric Garland from the University of California who observed that the incidence of colon cancer was nearly three times higher in New York than in New Mexico. Subsequent studies have since shown vitamin D supplementation produce a dramatic 60% drop in risk of developing any form of cancer. This confirms the benefits of vitamin D and sun exposure in reducing the risk of cancer.
Bottom line:
Sunshine does have its benefits, but it’s still the number one cause of skin cancer. Experts recommend no more than 15 to 20 minutes of direct sunlight daily for a healthy adult. After that, apply sunscreen with a minimum Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30. Remember skin colour, where you live and how much skin you expose to the sun affect how much vitamin D you can produce.
Reference: Life Hack
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