Importance of SUNLIGHT to Humans. SunThursday.
While we hear more and more about how harmful the sun is to your skin, there are more important factors and benefits of the sun that are very, very important to our health.
We as humans need the sun for our overall health, but just like with everything else it comes with the right balance. Too much of everything, is not healthy or good for us.
TOP 7 HEALTH BENEFITS OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT
SUNLIGHT AND SEROTONIN
The right balance which is at least 15 minutes of the sun's warm rays play a huge role in the Mood-Lifting benefits.
Sun exposure stimulates serotonin and other hormones which are associated with boosting mood and helps a person feel calm and focused.
Being indoors a lot and the lack of sun can cause a host of issues like, SAD (seasonal affective disorder), insomnia, PMS, chronic health issues and increased risk of obesity.
It is very important for people who spend a lot of time indoors to make sure to go outdoors periodically to ensure healthy neurotransmitter and hormone production.
MOOD AND MENTAL HEALTH
Another great benefit of the sun is that it Releases Stress and goes beyond just fighting stress and Depression, because of the "happy" chemical serotonin is higher in brain during the summer months.
BUILDS STRONG BONES
The ultraviolet-B radiation in the suns' rays causes our skin to Create Vitamin D which plays a huge role in the bone health. Lack of vitamin D has been linked to osteoporosis and osteomalacia. Getting enough vitamin D every day can also reduce risk of other disease like heart disease, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and metabolic syndrome.
CANCER PREVENTION
A moderate amount of sunlight produces Cancer Preventive Benefits, even though excess sunlight can contribute to skin cancer. According to a study from Environmental Health Perspectives, people who live in areas where there are fewer daylight hours during the day are more likely to have certain cancers like, the colon, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate cancers than people who live in areas where there is more sun during the day.
HEALING SKIN CONDITIONS
Sun exposure can treat several skin conditions, according to the World Health Organization. It has been recommended by the doctors that UV radiation exposure to treat eczema, jaundice, psoriasis and acne.
IMPROVE SLEEP
Getting that sunlight for at least 15 minutes a day, especially in the morning helps your body shut off at night time a snooze-inducing chemical called melatonin which is responsible for making you sleepy.
It is recommended not to stay in the direct sunlight for more than 15 minutes without using the skin protection, which the best and the safest one would be putting on some your light clothes on.
Getting anywhere from 5- 15 minutes of sunlight, at least 3 times a week, on your hands, face and arms is enough to receive the vitamin D-boosting benefits from the sun, according to the World Health Organization. By wearing sunscreen or clothing over your skin for those 15 minutes, will NOT result in vitamin D production. The sun has to penetrate the skin.
God Bless You!
This is such a great post! Here in Norway we have very long and dark winters. The impact of the long periods lacking sunlight is a strain. Many of us experience lots of negative things like stress, moodyness and being generally lethargic. I have an Australian friend who lived here for a few years. He said he found it weird how Norwegians would just stand outside facing the sun in spring, for no obvious reason - just like penguins. After a couple of winters he got it; we just stand there soaking up as much sunlight as possible. It’s pure biology. 😆
-@lil-mich
That is so cute, and it must look pretty neat, all these people standing outside facing the sun. That would be me and it is me right now too, since right now I'm in Canada and I can't stand the winters just for that reason, the darkness so every time I see the sun, I have to go outside and just let my face take in all of it.
And you are right, it makes me sad and depressed and that is why I really want to move back to El Salvador to the beach and sun all year long.
The sun is so important for our wellbeing - I lived in the far North of Norway a couple of years. We didn’t see the sun AT ALL for about one and a half month during winter. Even in the middle of the day, there would only be like dusk. I loved the people and loved the place but hated the dark. After two winters I quit my job and went to Australia for a year, to defrost! I was meant to go back after a year, but I just couldn’t face the dark again. On the positive note, during summer the sun never settles that far north, and we had midnight sun for about two months. I hope your spring comes soon, so you don’t have to feel sad and depressed any more. 😊
Nice view. Great picture
Thank you @rehuelwolf for your nice visit.
Have a lovely day.
Love getting a little sun time in!
Yes. Me too. I love, love, love the sun.
yes benefits of the sun that are very, important to our health. Your husband fishing caught picture so good.
Thank you @polashsen for checking out my post, it is very appreciated.
Have a lovely day.
beautiful photos my friend:)
I love the sunnnnn!!
sun is life!!:):)
Happy Thursday!!
xoxo
Thank you my dear friend.
Me too, I love, love the sun and you are right, sun is life and it brings all the joy and happiness.
xoxo
this is such a very important knowledge everyone should know. I will be staying under the sun for even a little time now to receive some natural vitamins from it.
Thank you @bhabykat for this lovely comment and I'm glad you enjoyed it and yes the best vitamin D is provided from the sun, which is so important to our overall health.
Very good points @joalvarez; because, we in our daily dynamics has the tendency to stay hidden in an office, in our cars, in restaurants and in our own homes and we forget how necessary it is to take a little bit of sun and if it is on the beach much better. Thanks for the teaching and reminder. Greetings.
Thank you so much for this lovely comment @cjao20. I totally agree with you, that we tend to be so busy that we forget to take care what is the most important and that is our health. We need to slow down and enjoy the beauty of nature and sun, which is really the best medicine of all.
Great tips @joalvarez, we keep in touch. Greetings.
Too much darkness/rain and snow sometimes absorb depression. Fun in the sun is needed <3 I love the photos @joalvarez . Very calming <3
Thank you for collaborating with me to promote this post as explained at https://steemit.com/steemit/@jerrybanfield/10-ways-to-fund-a-steem-growth-project.
When you think about it, it makes no sense that the sun would be bad for us. We either evolved with it, or god put it there for us. Why would it be bad for us?
That said I burn really easily so I try and cover up in the summer rather then having to use sunscreen constantly.