We have very often heard our elders tell us to cover ourselves in the sun. During vacations, children are told not to play in the sun because of the ill effects. In reality however, a little bit of early morning sunlight or late evening sunlight just before sunset, is supposed to be good for the body. In this article we talk about Health Benefits Of Sunlight.
Experts have suggested the tender morning sunlight before 8 a.m. is a good source of Vitamin D, which is very important for our body. A good amount of early morning sunlight reduces the risk of cancer and several other diseases. We get around 90% of our vitamin D directly from the early morning tender sunlight.
This vitamin D helps us in absorbing calcium, keeping our bones healthy and thus helps in avoiding osteoporosis etc. Medical Experts have suggested that we need to get atleast 15 minutes of early morning sunlight to fulfil our requirements of Vitamin D.
We also get Vitamin D from milk, eggs, tuna and other oily fish. But most of the time we don’t eat healthy enough to get adequate amount of Vitamin D, leaving it to sunlight as the primary source of our vitamin D. There are many advantages of early morning sunlight.
Health Benefits Of Sunlight
Natural Mood Enhancer
Most of us will agree that an early morning walk or jog not only helps to freshen us up but also helps us to build up our energy for the day. Sunshine improves the levels of serotonin which is also called as a happy hormone. Modern research has indicated that outdoor exercising in parks or gardens creates more endorphins in the body than exercising indoors.
[content-egg module=Amazon template=grid]It lowers blood pressure
Researchers have found that a compound called nitric oxide is released in the blood vessels as soon as the early morning sunlight touches your skin. This helps in lowering the blood pressure of high blood pressure people.
It reduces heart diseases
Experts on heart disease have said that the cholesterol levels rise in winter as the vitamin D levels fall. In winter, people avoid going out and so they do not get the necessary sunlight exposure, leading to more deaths of heart diseases in winter.
Improves immunity
Vitamin D helps in building your immune system which in turn helps your body in fighting diseases.
Prevents Diabetes
A deficiency of vitamin D is a major contributor to Type II diabetes. Most children are given vitamin D supplements to avoid diabetes in the future.
Prevents Skin Disorders
Many skin disorders like eczema, psoriasis, acne and other fungal infections are known to be more intense in winter due to lack of vitamin D.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
SAD is a specific depression caused by the lack of sunlight. The easiest way to prevent it is to just go out for a walk, for an hour in the early morning sun.
Soothes joint pains and aches
People suffering from arthritis have showed improvement and ease in their pain, as the sunlight helps in warming up the body muscles.
Improved fertility levels
Sunlight reduces the hormone levels of melatonin which is directly related to supressing fertility. Sunlight makes you more fertile and improves your fertility period. Also due to reduced melatonin you are alert and energetic.
Reduces the risk of respiratory illness
Modern research has indicated that diseases like asthma and other different allergies are a result of vitamin D deficiency.
Reduces Menstrual problems
Many women are treated for polycystic ovary which causes abnormal periods, unwanted body hair and infertility. And most of these women are treated for vitamin D deficiency by giving them vitamin D supplements.
Prevents Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
This disease affects the central nervous system, leading to a loss of balance or even paralysis. Though intensive research is on to understand the cause of this disease, scientists have found that MS occurrence is much lower in sunny countries with warm climate throughout the year.
Some of the things that you can do to get your daily dose of sunshine and thus free vitamin D are as follows:
- Every day get your early morning dose of sunlight by taking your daily walk.
- In your office break, take a walk in the garden outside or just go for a stroll.
- Do outdoor exercises.
- Avoid taking the car for short distances, instead prefer to walk.
- Most European countries enjoy sunbathing.
These are the top 12 reasons why you need sunlight for your body. Just an early morning stroll will energise you and keep you fit and healthy and give you your dose of Vitamin D.
Hope you enjoyed this article Health Benefits Of Sunlight. Please check out other articles on Health and fitness.
Tags: deficiency in vitamin d, Health Benefits Of Sunlight, Importance of sunlight, need for sunlight, Skin disorders, Vitamin D
