By: Silvia Čolić |
How sunlight affects our health |
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Do you feel tired and listless after winter?
Do you suffer from frequent depression, insomnia and lack of energy?
Cause of that could be the absence of sunlight.
Our physical and emotional health greatly depend on sunlight, and during the gloomy days of winter this problem becomes more acute.
For this reason, it was observed that the inhabitants of countries with few sunny days are more likely to suffer from depression, insomnia and other symptoms associated with a lack of sunlight.
Sun has always been regarded our best friend, but this ancient wisdom has been forgotten.
Today, not only in winter, but throughout the year, we mostly stay indoors because of work and numerous obligations arising from modern way life.
So, we are ultimately stripped of many blessings that sun, our natural healer, has to offer.
Because of frequent warnings about the harmful effects of sun rays on our health most people stay indoors even during the nice sunny weather, which makes things even worse.
Your health depends on the sun
Sun provides us with valuable vitamin D, which is associated with many important life processes in our bodies.
Avoiding sun, people today suffer from many diseases associated with vitamin D deficiency, such as:
- high blood pressure
- breast, prostate and colon cancer
- diseases of bones and teeth
- weakness of the muscular system
- obesity
- multiple sclerosis
- depression
- low immune system, etc.
In fact, recently scientists have found out that our immune system cannot be activated without vitamin D.
Besides strengthening the defense capacity of out body, vitamin D regulates cell growth and hormonal balance.
It is found in milk and dairy products, grains and yeast, but these sources are insufficient.
The primary source of vitamin D is not a diet, but regular exposure to sun rays.
"All energy comes from the sun"
Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, the Nobel laureate credited for the discovery of vitamin C, argued that "all energy we introduce into the body comes from the sun."
Specifically, plants through photosynthesis absorb solar energy, which then become food for animals and humans.
Dr. Zane Kime, author of the book titled "Sunlight", has stressed, among other things, the impact of sunlight on lowering blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.
Kime also says that sun exposure reduces cardiac and respiratory problems, and increases endurance and strengthens resistance to infection.
John Ott, an honorary doctor of science at the University of Chicago, based on his extensive research on the effects of sunlight on plants, animals and humans, found that organisms exposed to unnatural light do not function properly, which ultimately reflects badly on their health and life expectancy.
For example, he found that mice exposed to unnatural light lived twice shorter then mice exposed to sunlight.
In experiments that were performed in classrooms and lasted for several months, he found that children who were exposed to unhealthy artificial light were more restless and had difficulty with memorizing and concentrating.
The sun is a source of good mood
Sunlight is closely related to our biological rhythms and mood.
Taking into account that stress and depression are the greatest problems of our time, this fact is by no means negligible.
Human body functions properly only if we live in harmony with the natural rhythm of changes of days into night and vice versa.
The light we receive during the day through our eyes stimulates the pineal gland, which secretes serotonin - the hormone responsible for positive mood, poise and concentration.
However, during the night or in reduced light, the pineal gland begins to secrete the hormone melatonin, which is responsible for sleep during the night.
In other words, daylight, especially sunlight, is responsible for our mental health and mental balance more than we might think.
Caution: sunglasses and sunscreens
Dr. Lieberman in his book titled „Light: Medicine of the Future”, states that according to the FDA's report, 14 of 17 sunscreens containing PABA (substance used to block UV radiation) which can be carcinogenic when it is exposed to sunlight.
From the above, it is reasonable to conclude that our creams for sun protection make more harm than good.
Not only does the defense against UV rays prevent us from receiving sunlight benefits, it additionally threatens our health.
Apart from the skin, our body receives sunlight via our eyes. Wearing sunglasses, except additionally limiting the positive impact of UV radiation, often causes other problems.
When we put sunglasses on, our pupils dilate automatically, and if the glasses do not have the proper protection, vision can be damaged by a large amount of radiation that will penetrate unhindered into our eyes.
Wearing sunglasses is largely unnecessary because our pupils automatically constrict and are thus naturally protected against damage caused by strong sunlight and UV radiation.
The benefits of sunlight are immeasurable, but, naturally, as with everything else, we should not go overboad with sunbathing. UV radiation is harmful only if it is excessive.
Unfortunately nowadays fear of exposure to sun became a widespread paranoia. It is time to correct this mistake and introduce the sun into our lives again.
Take advantage of sunny days and stay in the sun for at least 15-20 minutes daily. This will ensure sufficient amounts of vitamin D and allow you to reach optimal health.
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