Yvonne Glasgow
The sun is showing itself a little more these days, and the weather is starting to warm up. Now is an excellent time to get outside and let that light shine on you.
You don’t have to spend a lot of time in the sun. Just 15 minutes will give you some amazing health benefits.
A Dose of Vitamin D
Sunlight offers a natural way to boost your vitamin D. It’s produced by the human body, but production slows down as we age, leaving our bones more fragile. Harvard Health Publishing goes in-depth on what vitamin D is, how we get it, and what it does for the body.
Just as a quick summary, the UVB (ultraviolet B) rays of the sun are absorbed into our skin, where it begins the process turning into vitamin D3. Many supplements take longer to process to get the active vitamin D, so sunshine is the best medicine!
For more info, check out the video below.
Too little vitamin D in your system can increase your risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis. Vitamin D also helps regulate the growth of cells in the body, which makes it an asset in the fight against cancer.
Boost Your Serotonin
The sun does more than give you vitamin D; it also helps your brain release serotonin, a hormone that helps your body in many ways. Serotonin is to sunshine what melatonin is to the dark. The former helps you stay awake and focused, and the latter assists you in getting a better night’s sleep.
The video below offers some interesting info on serotonin and how it works.
Time in the sun boosts serotonin levels, which can dip when you don’t get out in the sunshine. This is why many people suffer from seasonal affective disorder in the winter when the sun isn’t out as much.
The right amount of serotonin release benefits you in the following ways:
- Reduces depression
- Lifts your mood
- Increases energy
- Increases focus
There are many other benefits to increased serotonin levels, including better digestion and sleep.
Just a short time outside in the sunshine can provide so many health benefits. So, next time the sun is shining, get outside for 15 minutes and enjoy that renewed feeling of warmth and energy!
