Benefits of Sunlight

Now that it is summertime, we need to take advantage of the sunlight! Weather it is outside in your backyard, at a beach, or on campus, there are so many ways to get some sun! Little did I know, that exposing yourself to sunlight actually has a lot of benefits! Here is some of the facts that I found!

Makes you Happier

Exposure to sunlight increases the brain’s release of a hormone called serotonin. Serotonin is a hormone that helps boosting your mood and helping you feel calm and focused. According to Health Line, they explain how “Without enough sun exposure, your serotonin levels can dip. Low levels of serotonin are associated with a higher risk of major depression with seasonal pattern (formerly known as seasonal affective disorder or SAD). This is a form of depression triggered by the changing seasons”. From personal experience, when I am tan, it makes me feel a lot more confident and overall happier and gives me more energy! 

Builds Strong Bones

Exposure to the sun’s rays causes a person’s skin to create vitamin D. Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in your body. These nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy! If you are really looking to get some sun and build strong bones, try working out outside! There is nothing like getting fresh air and sunlight while you are working out. I usually grab a mat and my laptop and watch a workout video and follow along. It definitely builds up a sweat!

Healing Skin Conditions

According to the World Health Organization, sun exposure might help treat several skin conditions, too. Doctors have recommended UV radiation exposure to treat jaundice, eczema, psoriasis, and acne! I know this may not be for everyone, it is worth a shot! Plus, you will get a good tan! Make sure to always apply sunscreen, too much sun can lead to some skin and health problems. 

Weight Loss

Morning light also seems to help people keep the fat off. According to WebMD, “You need 20 to 30 minutes between 8 a.m. and noon to make a difference, but the earlier you get it, the better it seems to work. Scientists think the sun’s rays may shrink fat cells below your skin’s surface. More sunshine means you’re probably getting more exercise too, which is good for you in lots of ways, including shedding pounds”. From a personal experience, we know sweating helps you loose weight. When I am in the sun, I sweat, therefore it helps me lose weight/calories. 

Don’t Forget to Protect Yourself

Although sun has it benefits, too much sun can cause some problems and some painful sunburns! When I was on vacation with my family, we met this family and the husband was a firefighter. He shared some of his stories when he unfortunately got burned from a fire, but he said that him and his fellow firefighters used shaving cream to help reduce the burn. My grandma got burnt, so we used shaving cream and it worked very well! Other remedies that work is Aloe Vera gel and ice packs!

https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/benefits-sunlight

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ss/slideshow-sunlight-health-effects