Well, taking sunlight has various benefits and is very good for health, as it is the major source of Vitamin D which plays an important role in bone health and immune system function. One can only need to take 10-20 minutes of sunlight to see the health benefits. People with dark skin color need more time in sunlight to get the health benefits. Do you really know hoe can be good for your health and well-being? Let’s read out some benefits of taking sunlight.
1. Sunlight kills bacteria- well, most of us like spending time indoors, but these indoor environments can contain the dust that carries different types of bacteria and some of which can trigger asthma and allergy symptoms. And, you know the sunlight can kill the bacteria that live in dust. In this study, 12% of bacteria survived in darkrooms, out of which only 6% of dust bacteria survived after they were exposed to sunlight.
2. Sunlight may reduce high blood pressure– Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is leading to many health problems, including heart attack, stroke, and kidney damage. So, experts said that exposure to sunlight lowered systolic blood pressure in people with kidney failure on dialysis. So, this may be due to the ability of UV light to increase the availability of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a molecule in the body that can cause your blood vessels to widen and, lower your blood pressure. Meanwhile, sunlight affects blood pressure too.
3. Sunlight can regulate the immune system – taking sunlight means you are getting the vitamin D dose from cholesterol in your skin cells, which is known as the sunshine vitamin, well vitamin D has many benefits including the ability to regulate the immune system.
4. Sunlight strengthens bones– as the study shows that vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, which is necessary for bone health. This can also help prevent conditions like osteoporosis and osteopenia. Good bone health can prevent bone fractures also in the future.
5. Sunlight can improve sleep quality- the most important benefit if one is facing the issue of sleeping, Exposure to the sun plays a big role in maintaining your body’s internal clock, or circadian rhythm. Generally, your circadian rhythm responds to the sun’s light cycle, helping you fall asleep at night and wake up early in the morning. If ones are looking to improve their sleeping hygiene can opt for this method. Even Getting some sunlight in the morning can help you sleep because it increases your melatonin levels. Melatonin plays a major role in regulating the body’s circadian rhythm and helping in sleep when it gets dark.
6. Sunlight boosts mood – Getting enough amount of sunlight can help combat mood disorders in seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is a type of depression that mainly occurs in the fall and winter when there is a bit of sunlight.
However, the exact cause of SAD is unknown, a lack of sunlight may affect the way the brain’s hypothalamus works. This can make it very difficult for your circadian rhythm to time certain functions when you wake up. As a result, you may be experiencing SAD symptoms, like feelings of despair or fatigue. Additionally, having enough amount of sunlight can boost the level of serotine and your mood also.
How much sunlight per day is recommended? Well, the minimum exposure time is 10 minutes, and the effects on normal people are 10 minutes but for darker skin people, the same amount of effect should be taken in minimal exposure of 30-40 minutes because people with darker skin have more melanin in their skin which is a molecule that serves as a natural sunscreen.
Although melanin gives more protection from sun damage, it can also make it a little tough to get enough sun exposure.
It is to be noted that regardless of skin tone, spending more time than the recommended amount may increase your risk of sunburn or skin cancer. And for that, one should wear sunscreen regularly before going outside into the sun. This is especially if you are going to be out longer than 10 to 30 minutes.
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