Sun exposure – beneficial or harmful?
From Catherine Burbank’s newsletter
Sunshine boosts your body’s “happy hormone” level (serotonin). Serotonin may also act as a natural appetite suppressant as people tend to eat lighter in warm sunny weather.
It’s also shown that outdoor activities create more endorphins than indoor exercise.
Depression may be contributed to by lack of sunlight, as in SAD (Seasonal Affect Disorder)
Since sunlight exposure reduces the body’s melatonin level, it literally may give us more “get up and go” energy. Many require less sleep, for instance, in summertime yet feel livelier.
Natural sunlight appears to relieve aches, pains, muscle stiffness and even reduce discomfort from inflammatory conditions like arthritis.
Sun exposure can help alleviate various skin conditions, from psoriasis to acne and eczema.
Sunlight encourages the production of white blood cells that help boost immunity and fight infection.
Although concern linking harmful sun rays with skin cancer is well known, new studies are finding fewer other types of cancer in people exposed to high levels of sunlight.
Areas with more sunlight were shown to have less coronary disease; and cholesterol levels tend to rise in winter-time when we get less sun. This is now thought to relate to the sun’s natural supply of vitamin D.
Sunlight’s natural vitamin D may also play a role in discouraging the onset of diabetes and nervous system disorders. Science has noted, for instance, less MS (multiple sclerosis) in sunnier countries
Sunshine may even help teeth stay strong. A UK dental study found notably fewer cavities in children living in warmer areas of the country.
These are all good reasons to make sun-bathing at the beach or pool-side and outdoor activities irreplaceable support systems of a wholesome lifestyle.
For while science can try to emulate some of our Sun’s beneficial constituents found in natural sunlight, nothing else compares to the real thing – naturally basking in our Sun’s miraculous composition of vital natural resources – right there when we step out the door on a sunny day.
Of course, we’ve all learned about the down-side of too much UVA and UVB rays. They are what make Young Living’s broad-spectrum, non-chemical Mineral Sun Screen plus cooling and moisturizing LAVADERM After-Sun spray a pair of personal must-haves to take along for your every outdoor outing!
Research source for sun benefits mentioned above:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/dieting/15-reasons-sun-good-you-623393