We are always talking about how the sun’s warm rays can harm our skin, hair, or mood. Our first thought is always the damage it can do. People become cautious about spending time in the sun because too much exposure can cause skin cancer. But have we talked about the different health benefits of sunlight?
Sunlight and Its Benefits
Sunlight is essential for life and essential to our health and well-being. It is essential to protect us from too much sun. We should also ensure that we get enough sunlight to enjoy its health benefits.
Sunlight Helps Fight Depression
Without sun exposure, usually during winter, most people experience Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. It is a form of depression due to a low level of serotonin. Exposure to sunlight increases the brain’s release of hormones called serotonin. Serotonin is associated with mood-boosting and helps a person keep calm, relaxed, and focused.
A Good Source of Vitamin D
Enough exposure to sunlight causes our skin to create vitamin D from cholesterol. Vitamin D plays a significant role in our body and our health. It instructs the gut or gastrointestinal tract cells to absorb calcium and phosphorous. These two minerals are essential for healthy and strong bones. A low vitamin D level is linked to severe health conditions such as osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, depression, and even cancer.
Improves Sleep
A darker light triggers our brain to produce other hormones called melatonin. This hormone is responsible for helping you sleep. The more sunlight exposure you get, the better your body will produce melatonin when it is time to sleep.
Sunlight Can Also Strengthen Our Immune System
Vitamin D that our body produces with constant exposure to sunlight also helps strengthen our immune system. A healthy immune system can reduce the risk of common illnesses, infections, and some cancer. Take note that sunlight is the best way to increase vitamin D levels, while only minimal available food contains a significant amount of vitamin D.
Can Help With Weight Loss
It is said that morning sunlight also helps people keep the fat off. Getting out for 20 to 30 minutes between 8 in the morning and noon can help make a difference. Sunshine with lots of exercise may be good, including reducing pounds.
Sunlight can Help Ease Skin Problems.
Too much exposure to the sun can cause three primary types of skin cancer: melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. But a small amount of daily ultraviolet light can help ease the symptoms of skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and vitiligo.
Sunlight and Your Hair
Vitamin D that the sun offers can helps create new hair follicles. Sun exposure can be an effective way to stimulate hair growth due to the vitamin D you get.
Sunlight for Babies
Filtered sunlight can also help treat a condition called jaundice which primarily affects newborns. Too much chemical bilirubin in the blood makes a baby’s skin slightly yellow. Putting the baby in the sunlight behind a window or filtered sunlight may help get rid of bilirubin. Remember not to put a newborn in direct sunlight outside.
There are still a lot of benefits we can get from the sun. But we must always look after how long we stay outside and at what particular time of the day. According to a study, getting anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes of sunlight 2-3 times a week is enough for lighter-skinned people to reap the vitamin D benefits of sunlight. In contrast, those with darker skin may need a longer time.
But for some possible reasons that you cannot get the needed sunlight, a massage can help you with some benefits. It can help you have a peaceful sleep and can help fight depression. A massage can also strengthen the immune system and even help ease some symptoms of skin conditions. Dial our number and talk with our certified massage therapist for the best massage option that will suit your body’s needs. Or book now to have some relaxing me-time to beat the sun’s extreme heat.
