Benefits of Sunlight

Benefits of sunlight? After hearing all the recent bad press about sunshine, you may be wondering how the sun could possibly be good for your health and well-being.

Report after report has warned us that even a small amount of exposure to the sun is bad for us.

It is good to be cautious when it comes to how much sun you are exposed to. After all, too much sunlight can put you at higher risk for skin cancer and cataracts. And it can make your skin wrinkle and age way too early in life.

But does being cautious mean that you should avoid the sun altogether?

No! Sunlight happens to be one of the greatest healing remedies that you can find in nature. The sun provides the energy that all living things need in order to exist on this earth.

When you take it in moderation, there are lots of health benefits of sunshine. If you hide away from the sun, you will not get those benefits.

So, what are the benefits of sunlight? Check out this list!

• One of the major benefits of sunlight is that it helps fruits, vegetables, and grains to grow and be healthy. It also helps animals and us humans to grow and develop as well.
• A definite plus of sunshine is that it gives you a healthy looking complexion. It will make your skin smooth with an irresistible healthy glow.
• If you get regular exposure to sunlight, it will help protect your skin in the long run. That is because your body will build up a natural resistance to the harmful effects of ultraviolet light.
• If you allow your skin to get moderately tanned, it will be more resistant to infections and sunburns than if your skin is not tanned.
• The ultraviolet rays in sunshine act as a natural antiseptic. These rays can kill viruses, bacteria, molds, yeasts, fungi, and mites in air, water, and on different surfaces including your skin.
• Getting some sun tends to help clear up different skin diseases such as acne, boils, athletes foot, diaper rash, psoriasis, and eczema.
• Another of the main benefits of sunlight is that it stimulates your appetite and improves your digestion, elimination, and metabolism.
• Getting your daily dose of sunshine will enhance your immune system. It increases the number of white blood cells in your blood. It also helps them to be better fighters in their mission to destroy germs.
• Sunshine encourages healthy circulation. It also stimulates the production of more red blood cells which increases the amount of oxygen in your blood.
• Sunlight is one of the most effective healing agents that exists.
• Feeling down? One of the major benefits of sunlight is that it will soothe your nerves and boost your mood leaving you with a renewed sense of well-being. Sunlight increases the production of endorphins and serotonin in your brain which will definitely leave you feeling much better.
• Getting enough sunlight during the day can help you sleep better at night. If you are exposed to natural light during the day, it will increase your melatonin output at night. Melatonin is a natural hormone made by our bodies. It enhances sleep and slows down the aging process.
• The healing properties of the sun are excellent for people who are suffering from various diseases and ailments.
• Sunlight helps to balance out your hormones. It may even help to relieve certain symptoms of PMS.
• Sunlight improves the function of your liver and helps it to break down toxins and wastes that could lead to cancer and other diseases.
• If you’ve got swollen, arthritic joints, sunlight may help lower your pain levels.
• Sunlight is an effective treatment for jaundice.
• According to some studies on the benefits of sunlight, exposure to the sun may decrease your risk of breast, colon, and prostate cancers.
• Sunlight helps your body convert a form of cholesterol that is present in your skin into vitamin D. This results in lower blood cholesterol levels. Click here to read more about the benefits of vitamin D.
• Other benefits of sunlight include the life-giving energy it gives to your organs and the way it helps to strengthen and vitalize your body.

Before you run outside...

What if I don’t get Enough Sunlight?

Lack of sunlight can worsen feelings of depression in some people.

According to one study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition your chances of getting cancer could increase by as much as 70% if you don’t get enough direct sunlight.

If you do not get enough sunlight your body may not make enough vitamin D. Having a vitamin D deficiency may put you at increased risk for bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Low vitamin D levels can also cause weak hearts, poor metabolism, and slow healing of bones and cuts.

How Much Sunshine is Enough?

The general rule is this: The darker your skin, the more sunlight you will need to activate the synthesis of vitamin D in your skin. If you don’t spend enough time in the sun, you may become deficient in vitamin D. And you could miss out on the many benefits of sunlight.

The fairer your skin, the less time it will take to activate the synthesis of vitamin D in your skin. If you are very fair skinned, a very brief amount of time in the sun should be enough to meet your needs.

An average of 10 minutes of sunlight per day all year round will make sure that you reap the benefits of sunlight and make enough vitamin D. Remember that artificial light can never substitute for the real thing.

In the summertime try to avoid being out in the direct sunlight between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm. The summer sun is too intense between those times. Catch some rays before 10 am or after 4 pm. If you need to stay out longer than 10 minutes use a natural, chemical-free sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Most quality health food stores carry a variety of brands.

If you live in the north and have a tendency to feel down during the long winter months, try to catch as many rays of sunshine as you can. In northern countries, it is ok to get some daytime sun. Twenty minutes of sun on your hands, neck, feet, and legs is ideal and should be sufficient for you to get the many benefits of sunlight.

Try to go outside if you can because UV light does not produce vitamin D through glass. Sitting in a bright spot in your home is nice and relaxing, but it will not help you get your daily dose of vitamin D.

Your Diet and Exposure to the Sun

Diets that are high in protein, animal fats, junk foods, soft drinks, vegetable oils, hydrogenated oils, animal and vegetable shortenings, and dairy products are associated with an increased risk of skin cancer. Eating a high fat diet and spending lots of time in the sun is a bad combination.

Unhealthy oils are not just in food. You can also find them in skin care products such as suntan oils and skin lotions. Unhealthy oils in skin care products can also damage your skin and put you at risk.

The ultraviolet rays of the sun react with the fats in your body. The end result? Free radicals form. They damage your cells and can lead to cancer. Sunlight may play a role but the real culprit is a diet high in fat and low in antioxidants and nutrients.

If you eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, you will be getting lots of nutrients, antioxidants, and other plant substances that will help prevent the formation of free radicals. This has a protective effect. Fresh, plant foods are very important in helping your body be able to handle exposure to sunlight. Antioxidants protect your skin from burning too quickly. They also prevent premature aging.

Benefits of Sunlight for your Home

One of the major benefits of sunlight in your home is that it is an effective germ killer. You can clean and freshen up your blankets, quilts, and other items by hanging them out in the sunshine.

Sunlight can also prevent the rooms in your house from becoming damp and moldy. All you have to do is expose them to fresh air and sunlight on a regular basis. In one study published in the British Medical Journal, sunlight was able to kill the bacteria that was present in dust particles.

If you are worried about fading furniture and pictures, try rearranging your room so that your valuable items are out of the path of direct sunlight. But if your furniture does end up fading a little, I’m sure you’ll agree with me that the benefits of sunlight are well worth it!