Introduction to Sunshine Health
The sun is not simply a source of light and heat. In humans, it is a critical component of health and wellness. Vitamin D is also known as the “sunshine vitamin”, as it is naturally retrieves in our body when it comes into contact with the sun’s UVB rays. But the benefits of sunshine extend beyond its role in making Vitamin D. Sunlight has been linked to a range of physical and mental health benefits, from boosting mood to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. But like all powerful tools, it should be used judiciously to avoid potential overexposure. Now let’s dig deep into the various ways a dose of sunshine may affect your health.Sunshine Health
More Than Bones and Sun, The Making of Vitamin D
One of the things many people know about sunlight is that the body makes Vitamin D with it, all thanks to the help of the sun.Vitamin D is a vitamin that is stored in the fat cells of the body and is used in so many good ways, especially when it comes to keeping your bones strong.Sunshine Health
Bone Health
Bone strength – Vitamin D is necessary for strong and healthy bones. It even helps us absorb the calcium in the food we eat, to keep our bones strong and healthy. The lack of adequate Vitamin D, prevents the absorption of calcium and ultimately, can cause bone disease such as rickets (in children) and osteoporosis (among adults). Osteoporosis is condition that is identified with weak bones that creates an increased risk of breaks.
Immune FunctionSunshine Health
Vitamin D is also crucial for the immune system. It spurs the activation of T-cells, which keep us safe from infections. Vitamin D deficiency can also make you prone to autoimmune diseases and infections. Some studies have indicated that low levels of Vitamin D are linked to various chronic diseases, including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.Sunshine Health
Mental Health
Also interestingly, some research has indicated that Vitamin D could be correlated with mental health. A deficiency of vitamin D may also cause mood disorders like depression. He says that there are plenty of studies of people who get less depressed when they’re in the sun and the general level of sadness falls when people get less sunshine in the winter. Being in the sunlight may even play a role in boosting levels of serotonin, the neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood and may help people feel happier overall.Sunshine Health
Muscle Health
Vitamin D and muscle strength Vitamin D is also essential for muscle strength. Vitamin D deficiency can weaken muscles, making you more prone to falls, particularly among older individuals. Good sun exposure can also help optimize muscle function and strength, and lessening the chance of injury.Sunshine Health
While Vitamin D is important, it should be noted that geography, skin color and the use of sunblock can all impact Vitamin D synthesis – for instance, in people with darker skin, the melanin present in the skin decreases the end product of Vitamin D that is produced. In such cases, diet and supplements for Vitamin D are necessitated.Sunshine Health
Better Mood and Mental Health
How sun impacts your mental health. Among these deeper processes that sunlight may have on one’s mood is its ability to influence the production of serotonin. A chemical messenger in the brain, serotonin is also involved in happiness and well-being. This is the “feel-good” hormone, as it controls the mood and induces good feelings.Sunshine Health
Serotonin Production
Sunlight on the skin causes the production of serotonin within the brain. This becomes especially true with the peak of summertime when more skin is exposed to the sun. When serotonin levels are high, so is people’s energy, mood improves and anxiety begins to diminish. Conversely, if you don’t get enough sunlight — say, during the darker days of winter — serotonin production decreases, which might make you feel down and slow.Sunshine Health
Then there are the higher cases of the winter blues that we’re a bit too afraid to mess with… SAD- Seasonal Affective Disorder
The most well-known example of the sun’s relationship to mood is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This type of depression is a depression that occurs when people have symptoms of depression during the late fall to winter time, even when there is plenty of sunlight. If the sunlight, which you need to produce vitamin D, disappears, the theory goes that serotonin levels will drop and whooooops now you’re powdering vitamin D into your smoothie. Fortunately, light therapy, a treatment that mimics being in the sunshine, works well for SAD.Sunshine Health
Circadian Rhythms
A little sunlight can help to reset circadian rhythms the body’s internal clocks that tell us when to sleep and wake. Being “happy” is a small positive result arising from our circadian rhythms running fairly well. Melatonin, the hormone that triggers sleep, begins to be released with sunlight. By getting some good sunshine at daytime, in particularly in the morning, you are helping to reset your body clock (circadian rhythm) and ensure a better quality sleep at night too. This, in turn, could elevate mood and cognitive function.Sunshine Health
Immune System Support
The immune system is the body’s defense system, and sunlight is about enhancing it. Vitamin D from sunshine is important for an efficient immune system. It helps regulate the activity of immune cells, including T-cells and macrophages — that tend to go into overdrive when they’re made to attack bad bacteria and viruses.Sunshine Health
Immune System Modulation
Exposure to sunlight, researchers have discovered, ramps up the immune system by boosting the production of key immune-modulating molecules. These molecules work like alarm bells, helping the body identify and respond to infections and lowering the risk of illness. The relationship between sunlight and immune health in general Individuals who live in regions with less sunlight have higher rates of respiratory infections and other immune conditions, studies have shown.Sunshine Health
Antimicrobial Properties
Sunshine has an anti-microbial effect, in addition to an immune-enhancing effect. Light and ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun also can kill some germs on some surfaces, so people sometimes use UV emitters for “disinfection.” Some UV wavelengths, in fact, have been used since the 19th century for medical applications including sterilizing surgical instruments and disinfecting surfaces.Sunshine Health
Cardiovascular Health
And moderate sun exposure is related to healthier hearts. Plus, there are clues that sunlight might have advantages for blood pressure and overall heart health, as well.Sunshine Health
Blood Pressure Reduction
Sunlight causes the skin to release nitric oxide, a molecule that dilates blood vessels; this lowers blood pressure. This reseive of ideas of vasodilation excites the circulation and lowers heart performance. By reducing blood pressure, the risk of developing heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular problems is reduced.Sunshine Health
Heart Disease Risk
There is an increasing body of evidence that even modest, regular sun exposure can lower the risk of heart disease. High levels of exposure to sunlight were associated with a decreased risk of dying from heart disease, a study in JAMA Cardiology found. The difference might suggest that the sun, in reducing blood pressure and boosting circulation, offers some protection against cardiovascular disease.Sunshine Health
Skin Conditions and Healing
Sunlight is therapy or poison, depending on the skin problem. UV rays have been found to cure symptoms of skin diseases like Psoriasis, Eczema, Acne, among others, in a controlled environment.
Psoriasis / Eczema Photo therapy (the medical use of ultraviolet light) is a common treatment for both psoriasis and eczema. It reduces inflammation, flare-ups and aids in healing the skin.
AcneHealth
Not all light is bad for the eyes, too much sunlight can but too much natural light is good for the eyes.
Myopia Prevention that naturally form the eyesight of their offspring. Children starved of sunlight are more likely develop short-sightedness CHILDREN who do not see the sun are more likely to be short-sighted than children who have sunny days, new research has claimed. This is thought to be because sunlight helps stimulate the release of dopamine in the retina, which in turn slows the elongation of the eyeball, a crucial aspect of the development of myopia.
Cataract Prevention
Cataracts Solar ray, particularly UV, can contribute to the development of cataracts Development of cataracts – a cloudiness in the lens of the eye, most often associated with the aging process Clouding and weakening of the lens of the eye However, UV-blocking sunnies can protect you from all that potential damage while still getting the benefits of natural light.
Weight Management
Sunshine can also indirectly affect weight control. Research has suggested that sunlight may affect fat cells and modify when we store fat and burn it.
There’s also the activities which are “inspired” by sunlight in addition to all the benefits that activity brings on board. People who spend more time outdoors are likely to be more physically active, and, all other things being equal, being active tends to promote a healthier body weight.
Longevity and Overall Health
Research indicates that small doses of sunlight could extend your life. People who are exposed to more sunlight are known to have lower mortality rates from diseases like heart disease and cancer.
Reduced Mortality
A n analysis of more than 29,000 men in Didier F R Rasch Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands found the more UV exposure the lower the risk of dying from cancer and cardiovascular disease. The result suggests that sunlight might contribute to a longer life through impacts on the immune system and cardiovascular system.
Safe Sun Exposure Practices
While sun exposure is good for a variety of things, you have to safely suntan to minimize the harmful effects of damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays, including the risk of getting skin cancer and premature aging of the skin.
Recommended Practices
Keep It on the Level: You want 10 to 30 minutes of exposure, depending on your skin color and where you live and what time of year it is.
Don’t Forget Sunscreen: Apply SPF 30 or higher that shields both UVA and UVB rays for all-day sun protection.
Cover Up: Sport hats, sunglasses and long sleeves to shield you from harmful UV rays.
Stay Out of the Midday Sun: Do your best to avoid the sun from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Conclusion
We need sunlight for good health. From boosting your body’s production of Vitamin D to boosting your mood to boosting your immune system, the sun provides a variety of physical and mental wellness benefits. Safe sun exposure allows people to get the best from the sun, and to mitigate the potential hazards from exposure. Responsible sun exposure could be good for your overall health and quality of life in the long run.
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