While many people have become aware of the dangers of over exposure to sunlight, with the risk of skin cancers well known by us all now, there are still many health benefits to spending time out in the sun. While sunburn should always be avoided, getting the right balance between being outside and protecting yourself is a good way of giving your body and mind a natural tonic. Some of the health benefits which can result from being out in the sun are detailed below.
Perhaps the best known health benefit of being in the sun is that your body subsequently produces more Vitamin D. Many people who suffer from conditions associated with Vitamin D deficiencies, such as rickets, fall victim to the condition because of a lack of sunlight. Other conditions such as asthma and some cancers have also been linked by recent research to a lack of this vitamin.
The light from the sun is especially important for the body's natural production of Vitamin D3. The natural cholesterol in skin works with the sun's UVB rays to help out liver and kidneys produce this vitamin. Unless the skin is exposed to direct sunlight, this process will be severely impaired, with many possibly negative consequences.
This means that taking a balanced approach to being in the sun can be very good for you. If you aim to be out for between a quarter and a half of an hour for four days a week, then you will be getting about as much as you need. Exposure to sun through glass does not have the same effect, because the glass blocks UVB rays.
The body also has its own natural protection mechanisms, which will protect people from overdosing on Vitamin D. It is also a good idea not to wash with soap too soon after coming in from the sun. This will wash off the skin's oils which are so important at the start of the Vitamin D production process.
There are other potential benefits to the skin being exposed to direct sunlight too, with recent research from Edinburgh University suggesting that exposure to sun may well help with circulatory conditions. Sunlight might help with illnesses caused by high blood pressure, as well as heart attack and stroke. This might well be so effective, the researchers claim, as to outweigh risks of skin cancers.
UV rays were found by this study to release a compound called nitric oxide, which looks like it acts to reduce blood pressure. While more research is necessary to establish the exact reasons for this, it looks like light from the sun can offer more than just Vitamin D. Stroke and heart attack kill approximately 80 times more people than skin cancer in the UK, according to the BBC.
So it seems that being out in the sun can be good for your health and well-being in a number of ways. It must always be understood though that it is important to keep your exposure balanced. If you need specific medical advice with regard to sunlight, then speak to your doctor.
Perhaps the best known health benefit of being in the sun is that your body subsequently produces more Vitamin D. Many people who suffer from conditions associated with Vitamin D deficiencies, such as rickets, fall victim to the condition because of a lack of sunlight. Other conditions such as asthma and some cancers have also been linked by recent research to a lack of this vitamin.
The light from the sun is especially important for the body's natural production of Vitamin D3. The natural cholesterol in skin works with the sun's UVB rays to help out liver and kidneys produce this vitamin. Unless the skin is exposed to direct sunlight, this process will be severely impaired, with many possibly negative consequences.
This means that taking a balanced approach to being in the sun can be very good for you. If you aim to be out for between a quarter and a half of an hour for four days a week, then you will be getting about as much as you need. Exposure to sun through glass does not have the same effect, because the glass blocks UVB rays.
The body also has its own natural protection mechanisms, which will protect people from overdosing on Vitamin D. It is also a good idea not to wash with soap too soon after coming in from the sun. This will wash off the skin's oils which are so important at the start of the Vitamin D production process.
There are other potential benefits to the skin being exposed to direct sunlight too, with recent research from Edinburgh University suggesting that exposure to sun may well help with circulatory conditions. Sunlight might help with illnesses caused by high blood pressure, as well as heart attack and stroke. This might well be so effective, the researchers claim, as to outweigh risks of skin cancers.
UV rays were found by this study to release a compound called nitric oxide, which looks like it acts to reduce blood pressure. While more research is necessary to establish the exact reasons for this, it looks like light from the sun can offer more than just Vitamin D. Stroke and heart attack kill approximately 80 times more people than skin cancer in the UK, according to the BBC.
So it seems that being out in the sun can be good for your health and well-being in a number of ways. It must always be understood though that it is important to keep your exposure balanced. If you need specific medical advice with regard to sunlight, then speak to your doctor.
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