Health

Enjoy The Sunshine — The Health Benefits Outweigh Most Of The Risks

Sunshine is the best Vitamin D source

I have seen so many dermatologists now in my life as I was diagnosed with basalioma (basal cell carcinoma) which is the most common form of skin cancer. I have had several moles removed and the oncological tests were done. All thankfully without any trace of melanoma or other types of growth. It is in fact a cancer that is very rarely a life-threatening one.

All the specialists and doctors recommend sun exposure with protection as this is key to staying healthy while enjoying the other enormous health benefits of the sun. This is the best Vitamin D source on the planet.

We often joke about that because I come from Ireland and have fairish skin and green eyes. This means I am apparently more at risk. They all repeat the same mantra about which precautions I should take and I do!

Who knows that when on my first holiday in Sorrento when I was 19, that nasty sunburn could have started the whole process? But I always liked the sun and took precautions by wearing sunblock when enjoying the Italian sunshine. I have lived in Italy for more than 40 years.

Hippocrates had no doubt at all about the benefits of the sun. The word heliotherapy (light therapy) comes from the Greek god of the sun, Helios.

We need to treasure our time in the sun and harvest the health benefits without overdoing it.

“Everything in excess is opposed to nature.”- Hippocrates

1. Vitamin D is vital

Some research studies suggest that a lack of Vitamin D can increase the risk of colon cancer and also negatively affect chances of recovery. This deficiency can also lead to breast cancer, prostate cancer, and obesity.

Exposure to sunlight helps us to increase our own supplies of Vitamin D without having to take supplements. The recommended daily amount is 600 IU (15 mcg).

2. Sunshine can stave off other health problems

Vitamin D is so important for our health all round. It helps to maintain healthy bones, prevent dementia. tooth decay and also osteoporosis. It is alarming to learn that up to 42% of Americans have a Vitamin D deficiency and some estimates put the figure even higher.

One solution is to eat more foods that are rich in Vitamin D such as fish, mushrooms, and fortified milk. We should also aim to get about 90 minutes of direct sunlight every week.

3. Sunshine can help prevent depression

When we produce serotonin which is the feel-good hormone, our mood is enhanced. This can also happen when sunlight reaches the retina of the eye. This is like a signal for the optic nerve which helps to generate more serotonin so we feel happier and more relaxed. If we got more sunshine, many of us could avoid feeling depressed.

“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.” — Helen Keller

4. Sunshine can help us live longer

A Harvard Medical School report refers to a study done on 30,000 Swedish women who were monitored for 20 years. Those women who spent more time in the sun had fewer cardiac problems, less cancer, and lived longer!

5. Sunshine can knock out bacteria

A Nobel Prize winner (Niels Finsen in 1903) won this award for his important discovery that light therapy was crucial in the treatment of many diseases for its antibacterial effect.

6. Sunshine can help with obesity

Research published in the British Journal of Nutrition shows that women who were given more Vitamin D were less likely to suffer from hunger pangs. They were getting better results than the control group who not taking this vitamin. The best solution would be to get as much sunshine as possible to help with diet problems and weight issues.

7. Sleep problems can also be resolved

We have to keep a pretty regular normal sleep-wake cycle if we are to get regular sleep. Just think of jetlag and that cycle gets kicked out of joint and that has a severe effect on our sleep patterns!

We also know that the sleep hormone, melatonin is one of the keys to a good night’s sleep. If we are getting regular supplies of sunshine at the same time every day, then this supply will be constant and help us sleep soundly.

8. Vitamin D may help with lung function

Smokers have lots of problems with their lungs. One study actually shows that if they were given Vitamin D, their lung decline was arrested. This study is reported in the American Journal of Respiratory and Crucial Care Medicine.

9. Sunshine can also help with hypertension

Danes do not get much sunshine in the winter months due to the rather severe climate. They tend to have very low levels of Vitamin D in the month of February, which is hardly surprising. Some studies suggest that Vitamin D supplements or exposure to sunlight can help to keep hypertension under control. But more studies are needed as outlined by the Mayo Clinic in this article.

Final thoughts:-

Sunshine is still freely available. If we are lucky to live in a temperate climate with lots of sunshine, we can produce lots of our own home-grown Vitamin D without having to take the supplements.

Whichever solution is best for us, there is no doubt at all that sunshine is the best medicine there is.

We just need to take adequate protection — now where have I heard that before?

And as Oscar Wilde reminds us moderation will help as well.

“Everything in moderation, including moderation.”- Oscar Wilde

Other health articles I have written:-