10 BENEFITS OF SUN EXPOSURE
Basking in the sun is very simple for us, but not only plants absorb and metabolize sunlight, but humans are also the same. However, the relationship between sun exposure and our health is not as simple as we think. Genes are a factor in human metabolism of sunlight; so is skin type. For example, people who have fair skin and are prone to sunburn are likely to get skin cancer if they are exposed to too much sunlight. When it comes to how our bodies metabolize sunlight, the time and duration of exposure is also a key factor.
Having said that, many scientists believe that the health benefits of moderate sun exposure may actually outweigh the risks. For example, researchers from the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom specifically pointed out that the benefits of sun exposure to heart health far outweigh the risk of skin cancer. Here are the top ten health benefits of moderate sun exposure that you should know.
1. Sunlight will lower blood pressure
In a landmark study, a team of researchers from the University of Edinburgh found that a compound called nitric oxide can help lower blood pressure, and once the sun touches the skin, it will be Release into the blood vessels. This finding is important because before that, it was believed that the only health benefit of sunlight to the human body was to stimulate the production of vitamin d. Richard Weller, a senior lecturer in dermatology, and his colleagues found that sun exposure not only improves health, but also prolongs life. This is mainly because the benefits of lowering blood pressure also include lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke. Weller said these benefits “far outweigh the risk of skin cancer.”
2. Sun exposure can improve bone health
As we all know, vitamin D can stimulate the body to absorb calcium and phosphorus that strengthen bones. However, new research also shows that there is a direct relationship between bone density and vitamin D3. Vitamin D 3 is a fat-soluble vitamin that is formed during the vitamin D manufacturing process when the skin is exposed to sunlight. It can regulate the absorption of calcium. When you have higher levels of vitamin D3 in your blood, you have a lower risk of almost all types of fractures. On the other hand, the lower the vitamin D3 content in the blood, the higher the incidence of fractures. This is why sun exposure is particularly important for the bone health of the elderly.
3. Sunlight can improve brain function
In addition to promoting bone health and regulating important calcium levels, scientists have now linked vitamin D to multiple functions of the body, led by the University of Cambridge neuroscientist David Llewellyn (David Llewellyn) A study evaluated the vitamin D levels of more than 1,700 British men and women aged 65 years or older, and found that cognitive function decreased as the subjects’ vitamin D levels decreased. However, more studies have found that sunlight can promote the growth of nerve cells in the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for memory formation, organization and storage.
4. Sun exposure can relieve mild depression
Insufficient sunlight can cause seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is a common winter depression. This is also common for people who work long hours in office buildings and hardly go out to sunbathe. However, moderate sunlight exposure will increase the content of natural antidepressants in the brain, which actually helps to alleviate this mood and other forms of mild depression. This is because on a sunny day, the brain produces more serotonin, a chemical that can boost mood, than on a cloudy day.
5. Sunlight improves sleep quality
When sunlight hits our eyes, the pineal gland in the brain will receive information, and the secretion of melatonin (a hormone that makes us sleepy and helps us sleep) will stop until the sun goes down again. . Your body will get a clear signal that it is not night anymore, which helps to maintain a normal circadian rhythm. When it gets dark outside, your body will receive the signal again, and you will feel tired and drowsy when you sleep. However, due to overproduction during the day, the production of melatonin at night will be low, which leads to poor sleep quality, especially in the elderly. If possible, wake up early in the morning and expose yourself to the sun, so that your body will get today’s information and trigger the pineal gland to stop releasing melatonin.
6. Sun exposure can reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
Clinical studies have shown that patients with Alzheimer’s disease who are exposed to the sun throughout the day from 9 am to 6 pm score higher in mental examinations and improve certain aspects of the disease. For example, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that patients with Alzheimer’s disease exposed to bright light were compared with patients exposed to dim sunlight , There will be fewer symptoms of depression, night awakeness, restlessness, and loss of function. Researchers attribute these improvements to a more regular circadian rhythm.
7. Sunlight can treat some skin diseases
Sunlight can promote the healing of skin diseases such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, jaundice and other fungal skin infections. In one study, 84% of subjects successfully used four-week outdoor sunbathing therapy to significantly clear the symptoms of psoriasis. Although sun exposure has a therapeutic effect on the skin and has been successfully used to treat skin diseases, this alternative therapy should still be carried out under medical supervision to prevent the negative side effects of ultraviolet radiation and ensure that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.
8. Sunlight can promote the growth of children
This is especially true for babies. Studies have shown that the length of time a baby is exposed to the sun in the first few months after birth affects the baby’s height. Many cultures around the world recognize this fact and expose children to mild sunlight to promote growth and height.
9. Sunlight can strengthen the immune system
Sunlight can suppress an overactive immune system, which explains why sunlight is used to treat autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis. Since white blood cells increase with sunlight, it plays a key role in fighting diseases and fighting infections, so moderate sun exposure is very helpful for your immune system.
10. Sun exposure reduces the risk of certain cancers
Vitamin D deficiency can increase the risk of various cancers, especially breast and colon cancer. However, eating natural foods and sun exposure can relieve breast cancer. This association was originally proposed by Dr. Frank and Dr. Cedric Garland of the University of California. They found that the incidence of colon cancer in New York, USA is nearly three times higher than that in New Mexico. Subsequent studies have shown that vitamin D supplementation can reduce the risk of any cancer by 60%. This confirms the benefits of vitamin D and sun exposure in reducing the risk of cancer.
Note:
Although sunlight does have great benefits for us, it is still the number one cause of skin cancer. Experts recommend that a healthy adult not be exposed to direct sunlight for more than 15 to 20 minutes a day. After that, apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Don’t ignore the complexion of your skin and where you live.
