Much has been made in recent years of the damage which over exposure to sunlight can cause to the human body. The sun has been held responsible, with good reason, for conditions such as skin cancer, and too much sun can also cause the skin to age more quickly than it should. There is a balance to be struck though, and the sun can also do the human body a tremendous amount of good.
Perhaps the best known health benefit of being in the sun is that your body subsequently produces more Vitamin D. Many people who suffer from conditions associated with Vitamin D deficiencies, such as rickets, fall victim to the condition because of a lack of sunlight. Other conditions such as asthma and some cancers have also been linked by recent research to a lack of this vitamin.
The sun's rays act directly to initiate production of Vitamin D3, with UVB rays reacting with skin-based cholesterol to help the liver and kidneys manufacture the vitamin. This necessary process cannot happen unless we expose our bodies directly to light from the sun. Glass blocks out UVB rays, so sunbathing through a window does not have the same effect.
This means that it is actually good for you to expose skin to sunlight for at least 20 to 30 minutes, on three or four occasions each week. Sunlight through windows will not have the same positive effects, as the glass in windows blocks UCB rays while letting in UVA rays, which are potentially damaging. Sun screens often work to block UVB rays, which can work to produce Vitamin D.
It is also impossible to get too much Vitamin D, as the body has a natural defence mechanism, which will start to work when enough of the vitamin is present for the body's needs. For the full positive effect of the sun's rays, do not wash the skin with soap immediately after coming in from being out in the sun. The soap will destroy the natural oils which are necessary for the production of Vitamin D.
There are other potential benefits to the skin being exposed to direct sunlight too, with recent research from Edinburgh University suggesting that exposure to sun may well help with circulatory conditions. Sunlight might help with illnesses caused by high blood pressure, as well as heart attack and stroke. This might well be so effective, the researchers claim, as to outweigh risks of skin cancers.
The active ingredient in the process of helping with conditions to do with the blood circulation systems of the body is the compound Nitric Oxide. This looks like it acts to lower blood pressure, though the authors of the study admit more research is necessary before it can be established beyond doubt. BBC statistics indicate that illnesses such as heart attacks and strokes usually kill 80 times more people than skin cancer on an annual basis.
So it seems that being out in the sun can be good for your health and well-being in a number of ways. It must always be understood though that it is important to keep your exposure balanced. If you need specific medical advice with regard to sunlight, then speak to your doctor.
Perhaps the best known health benefit of being in the sun is that your body subsequently produces more Vitamin D. Many people who suffer from conditions associated with Vitamin D deficiencies, such as rickets, fall victim to the condition because of a lack of sunlight. Other conditions such as asthma and some cancers have also been linked by recent research to a lack of this vitamin.
The sun's rays act directly to initiate production of Vitamin D3, with UVB rays reacting with skin-based cholesterol to help the liver and kidneys manufacture the vitamin. This necessary process cannot happen unless we expose our bodies directly to light from the sun. Glass blocks out UVB rays, so sunbathing through a window does not have the same effect.
This means that it is actually good for you to expose skin to sunlight for at least 20 to 30 minutes, on three or four occasions each week. Sunlight through windows will not have the same positive effects, as the glass in windows blocks UCB rays while letting in UVA rays, which are potentially damaging. Sun screens often work to block UVB rays, which can work to produce Vitamin D.
It is also impossible to get too much Vitamin D, as the body has a natural defence mechanism, which will start to work when enough of the vitamin is present for the body's needs. For the full positive effect of the sun's rays, do not wash the skin with soap immediately after coming in from being out in the sun. The soap will destroy the natural oils which are necessary for the production of Vitamin D.
There are other potential benefits to the skin being exposed to direct sunlight too, with recent research from Edinburgh University suggesting that exposure to sun may well help with circulatory conditions. Sunlight might help with illnesses caused by high blood pressure, as well as heart attack and stroke. This might well be so effective, the researchers claim, as to outweigh risks of skin cancers.
The active ingredient in the process of helping with conditions to do with the blood circulation systems of the body is the compound Nitric Oxide. This looks like it acts to lower blood pressure, though the authors of the study admit more research is necessary before it can be established beyond doubt. BBC statistics indicate that illnesses such as heart attacks and strokes usually kill 80 times more people than skin cancer on an annual basis.
So it seems that being out in the sun can be good for your health and well-being in a number of ways. It must always be understood though that it is important to keep your exposure balanced. If you need specific medical advice with regard to sunlight, then speak to your doctor.
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