5 Good Reasons to Get More Sun

Any person in the PNW could think of more than 5 good reasons to get more sun, especially during March and April. These two months see lots and lots of heavy rains. It’s not that we don’t get a lot of rain in the other months; it’s that Spring is here and our brains are registering “need sun”. The end of the wet season is coming, and we are impatiently waiting its end. However, it is well-worth the rain for the beautiful sunny season we enjoy here. Our warm season is the highlight of the year. And although we do have a long wet/cold season it needs to be noted that it is lush and green year-round here. So even if the wetness is depressing, it does eventually pass about mid-Spring. May is when the glorious and sunny stretch begins, often lasting through October’s golden display. It is now May and with it sun has arrived.

Now is the time you will find me outside daily soaking in the sun. There are many days I will bring out my computer to the picnic table and have an “outdoor office” day. When the weekend comes you are likely to find me gardening or doing yard work. Sometimes I’ll just take a coffee break and go sit by the river and watch the ducks paddle by. Anyway, the golden warmth feels so good on the skin after all the cold. It feels amazing to just dry out. It turns out that those rays are more important than we thought. Science is learning more and more about the value of sunlight on our health. Read on for 5 good reasons to get more sun!

5 good reasons to get more sun

1. Mood

For many their mood is affected by the season. SAD is a real issue for many around the world in darker and colder climates who struggle with depression during the long winter months. They crave sunlight and for a very good reason: sunlight boosts serotonin levels (1). However, most of the human population figured out that the sun is beneficial to our mental well-being before science did.

2. Vitamin D

It’s no secret that the world population is facing a serious vitamin D shortage (1). Data from the WHO (World Health Organization) says the risks of illness and disease from lack of vitamin D far outweigh that of skin cancer. Additionally, the WHO says there is evidence to support the increase of melanoma is a result of increased travel to sunny locations. (2) Scientists are learning more about UV light and its health benefits. Focus is shifting back from evil UV rays to a healthy balance of sunlight (with proper sunscreen of course).

3. Healthy Circadian Rhythm

The amount of light we get in a day directly affects our circadian rhythm which is far more important than we realized. Getting the right amount of sunlight everyday helps our sleep cycle to run smoothly. It is also what signals our brain to start the sleep cycle in the morning (3). Leading specialist in this area, Satchin Panda, PhD, talks about the effects of an unhealthy circadian rhythm in his book, The Circadian Code (which I highly recommend). We are only just beginning to understand the importance of the circadian rhythm, but it is something that affects many of our important body systems including gut and digestive functions. A sleep cycle that is out of balance will affect our health, and sunlight is key in this.

4. Blood pressure

Although evidence is not conclusive, and more studies are needed there is mounting evidence of the relationship between sunlight and lower blood pressure. Studies at the British University of Edinburgh are pinpointing UV rays as the key to aiding hypertension and not vitamin D. For sure there is concern that we have underestimated the importance of UV rays and need to find a balance. According to Professor Feelisch:

“These results are significant to the ongoing debate about potential health benefits of sunlight and the role of Vitamin D in this process. It may be an opportune time to reassess the risks and benefits of sunlight for human health and to take a fresh look at current public health advice. Avoiding excess sunlight exposure is critical to prevent skin cancer, but not being exposed to it at all, out of fear or as a result of a certain lifestyle, could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Perhaps with the exception of bone health, the effects of oral vitamin D supplementation have been disappointing. (4)

The call for reassessing our current views and relationship with the sun is a valid one. Read on for another reason to study this further.

5. Possible Cognitive function

One study showed a relationship between sunlight and cognitive function in people struggling with depression (5). Another French study showed an apparent decrease in the cognitive function of the elderly with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s. (6). Other studies have also shown an apparent relationship between sunlight and vitamin D and cognition, but this has yet to be proven as it will require long term studies (7). Further research is still needed in this area, so that we can establish a healthy relationship with the sun.

These are all great, health-motivated reasons to go out and soak up some sun or at least try to work by a well-lit window. Like water, those golden rays are life-giving, affecting more than we imagined. So, get out and enjoy some sun!

#sun #sunlight #healthysun #vitaminD #rejuvenation #mentalwellbeing

Footnotes:

1. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4018438/
2. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12480364
3. www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/85/5/06-035089/en/
4. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140117090139.htm
5. ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1476-069X-8-34
6. www.alzheimersanddementia.com/article/S1552-5260(17)30138-3/abstract
7. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28758188
8. www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/00365513.2012.6