A Dose of Sunlight to BOOST Your Mood And Your Health

They say that the best things in life are free…

…and the sun is NO exception.

So, why aren’t we all getting our daily dose of this free mood and immune booster?

Well, we all know that life can get busy— but with the help of this article, maybe we can persuade you to rearrange your day a bit.

Sunlight exposure provides several health benefits to the body. Learn more about how the sun can improve your health below.

1. Sunlight can help put you in a good mood

Sunlight exposure boosts the production of serotonin in the body, also known as the happy hormone. Serotonin improves your mood, making you feel calmer and more alert. Sunlight works with brain receptors to help improve our mental state and well-being. This is why people who don’t get a lot of sun where they live tend to experience the winter downsies.

Of course, another key way to boost your body’s feel-good chemicals is by taking a probiotic that is targeted to help with the gut-brain connection.

2. Sunlight exposure helps you sleep better

When you get your daily dose of sunlight, it helps your body produce melatonin at night. Also called the sleep hormone, melatonin improves sleep and syncs the biological clocks of the body. It can also help reduce stress before slumber. Sleep is a HUGE part of health!

Furthermore, sunlight exposure during the daytime helps maintain the body’s circadian rhythm or the “sleep-wake cycle.” Not only can this improve sleeping issues, but it can also keep depressive symptoms at bay. Struggling to get your circadian rhythm set right? Our low-dose melatonin supplement can help!

3. Sunshine can help you enjoy healthier and stronger bones

You’ve always heard how the sun is the best source of vitamin D, but why is it important anyway? Also known as the sunshine vitamin, it improves calcium absorption, which leads to bone growth and formation. The truth is, the human body already has vitamin D, but it’s not activated yet. Being exposed to sunlight activates it.

Plus, having sufficient Vitamin D in the body can help prevent you from having Vitamin D deficiency. This deficiency can lead to bone density loss, making bones more prone to fractures and osteoporosis. The best source of D? THE SUN!

4. The sun can help boost your immune response

Vitamin D plays a role in the body’s immune system. However, a study from Georgetown University showed that Vitamin D from the sun could do so much more.

It is found that Vitamin D energizes the T-cells in the body. The sun's low levels of blue light make T-cells work faster to travel to the site of infection and respond to it appropriately. The study also said that activation from blue light could be a safer method, especially for people with UV rays sensitive to their skin.

5. Sunlight can help you maintain a healthy weight

According to new research, early morning sun exposure can help reduce body fat. This can then help lower your BMI and aid in weight regulation. Do note, though, that the subjects of this research had an average of 6.2 hours of sleep, and their caloric intake was recorded. This means that to see weight loss results, you should also be eating healthy and sleeping well.

6. The sun can help you maintain healthy blood pressure

Studies suggest that sun exposure can help with blood pressure. How exactly? There is nitric oxide on the top layer of the human skin. When it is exposed to sunlight, the blood vessels open up, allowing the oxide to enter the bloodstream. This helps lower blood pressure, which lowers the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

7. Sunshine provides protection against melanoma

One of the reasons why people don’t like being exposed to the sun is due to the risk of skin cancer. However, a new study shows that proper and safe exposure to sunlight can reduce the risk of melanoma.

Another study showed that people who live in areas where there is a lack of sunlight are more at risk of different types of cancer, such as colon, pancreatic, ovarian, prostate, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Practice safe sunlight exposure

There’s no question that the sun’s UV rays are intense, but it can be beneficial for the human body if you do it safely.

We feel this area of science is in need of some serious updating, as we have somehow been taught to constantly fear the sun.

Here are a few tips. Be sure to continue to do your own research:

• Morning sunlight is especially amazing. Capture the rays from sunrise if you can.
• If you go for midday sunlight, this is when the UVB rays are at its peak, which means you will need to spend less time under the sun to get adequate vitamin D.
• For fair-skinned individuals, 15-30 minutes of sunlight is enough.
• For dark-skinned individuals, a couple of hours of sunlight exposure may be needed.
• Do your research on sunscreen. Many sunscreens are full of toxic chemicals, which do more harm than good.
• Consult your dermatologist/doctor with any questions or concerns.

Whether you’re looking for a mood boost or an immune boost, you don’t need to search too far for a solution.

Just look up. ;)