The Many Benefits of Sunlight on our Health

Sun, The Creator and Destroyer

The sun has been known to us humans as the harbinger of life from the very beginning of our civilisation. Our ancestors have known the life-giving powers of the sun. Along with this positive side, they were also conscious of the destructive capacity of this enormous energy source, the Sunlight
Due to this dual nature, the sun was both loved and feared by the ancient people. The Sun was virtually hailed as a God and worshipped with the utmost respect, which is still the case in certain parts of the world.

Decoding the ball of fire in terms of science

A major percentage of the human population depends on exposure to the rays of the sun to meet their requirements for vital vitamins like vitamin D.Sun blesses us with numerous other benefits as well.

Benefits of Sunlight on our Health:

1. Natural Source of Vitamin D
One of the best things about sunlight is that it helps our bodies make Vitamin D. When sunlight hits our skin, it starts a natural process that makes this important nutrient, which is extremely important for our Bones and Teeth health. It also makes absorption of Calcium better thereby improving the immune system. Your body can fight infections and get better faster when you have a strong immune system. People who don’t get enough sunlight may feel weak, tired, or have problems with their bones.

2. Makes you feel better and less stressed

Have you ever noticed that you feel better when it’s sunny outside? That’s because sunlight makes the brain produce more serotonin, a chemical that makes us feel good and calm.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that happens during the darker months. It is often linked to not getting enough sunlight. Being outside can help you feel less anxious and more balanced emotionally.

3. Helps You Get More Sleep
Sunlight is very important for keeping our internal body clock, or circadian rhythm, in check. Getting sunlight early in the day helps your body know when to sleep and when to stay awake. This means it can help you sleep better at night and help improve energy levels

4. Good for Your Heart

Sunlight might also be good for your heart. It helps blood flow better and can lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels. This lowers the chance of having heart problems in future.

5. Helps Keep Weight Healthy

Getting sunlight, especially in the morning, can help hormones and metabolism that control hunger. It can help you lose weight in a natural way when you also do physical activity outside.

6. Increases productivity and focus

Natural light helps you focus, stay awake, and think clearly. Being in the sun can help you stay focused and get things done, whether you’re studying or working.

Besides the above,  there are other benefits of Sunlight as well:

* We all have seen our parents putting out quilts, blankets and carpets in the sun. This is because microbes, which tend to settle in these items, die out with exposure to sunlight.

* A regular exposure to the sun has an anti-cancerous effect due to the increased production of vitamin D. Colon cancer, breast cancer, leukaemia and lymphomas can be kept at bay through controlled exposure to the sun.

* Jaundice can be well treated through exposure to the sun in a controlled manner as it has positive effects on the functioning of our liver.

* Sun makes us sweat, thus stimulating our body’s excretory system and keeping our kidneys in order.

* Cholesterol level is also kept in check.

How to Stay Safe in the Sun

Sunlight is good for you, but you should enjoy it safely by getting say 15 to 30 minutes of sunlight every day. You should prefer exposure during early morning or late afternoon and keep away from the heat of the Sun when it is at the peak, i.e., Noon, and most importantly, use Sunscreen if you need to be out in the Sunshine for a longer duration of time. So Stay Healthy and keep enjoying the Sunshine and remember the saying, Make hay while the sun shines!

Safeguarding against the sun through Sunscreen Lotion

We mentioned points about the positive effects of controlled exposure to the sun. However, prolonged exposure to the sun’s rays can cause harm to your body, and as such, it is very important to use sunscreen as it absorbs a part of the UV rays to which our skin has been exposed, thus aiding in the process of controlled exposure to the sun. The use of these sunscreen lotions proves to be very helpful and should be used by everyone who is exposed to the sun. It is generally recommended to use a Sunscreen with SPF of 30 or 50 depending your skin Type.

All said and done, the numerous positive effects of the sun on the human race can only justify our forefather’s tendencies to worship the ball of energy as a supernatural power.