Leap Out In The Sun And Feel Healthier As A Result

By Haywood Hunter


Much has been made in recent years of the damage which over exposure to sunlight can cause to the human body. The sun has been held responsible, with good reason, for conditions such as skin cancer, and too much sun can also cause the skin to age more quickly than it should. There is a balance to be struck though, and the sun can also do the human body a tremendous amount of good.

One major boost that your body can receive from you being out in the sun is a tonic to its production of Vitamin D. Conditions such as rickets can be the end result of the human body having too little Vitamin D, which is often as a result of not spending enough time in the sun. Some types of asthma and some varieties of cancer can also be caused by a lack of Vitamin D in the body.

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 it is actually good for you to expose skin to sunlight for at least 20 to 30 minutes, on three or four occasions each week. Sunlight through windows will not have the same positive effects, as the glass in windows blocks UCB rays while letting in UVA rays, which are potentially damaging. Sun screens often work to block UVB rays, which can work to produce Vitamin D.

It is also impossible to get too much Vitamin D, as the body has a natural defence mechanism, which will start to work when enough of the vitamin is present for the body's needs. For the full positive effect of the sun's rays, do not wash the skin with soap immediately after coming in from being out in the sun. The soap will destroy the natural oils which are necessary for the production of Vitamin D.

There has also been some research carried out recently at Edinburgh University which states that the light from the sun could help with conditions such as high blood pressure and heart attack, as well as reducing the risk of dying of a stroke. This could have a massive impact on the life expectancy of many people. The potential benefits are so great that they may well outweigh the risk from skin cancer.

The active ingredient in the process of helping with conditions to do with the blood circulation systems of the body is the compound Nitric Oxide. This looks like it acts to lower blood pressure, though the authors of the study admit more research is necessary before it can be established beyond doubt. BBC statistics indicate that illnesses such as heart attacks and strokes usually kill 80 times more people than skin cancer on an annual basis.

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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