10 Reasons to Soak Up the Sun

When one of those seasons comes around were weeks can go by without any sunlight have you ever paid attention to your mood? Have you ever felt more down when it rains for multiple days? Believe it or not, sunlight has a lot more effects on the human body other than giving us a bronze tan or red sunburn. When our bodies come into contact with sunlight it can trigger billions of chemical reactions many of which help us in ways we never knew it could. Here are ten reasons why you should soak up as much sunlight as possible this summer.

Immune System

When your skin comes into contact with sunlight it can trigger the production of more blood cells including the white blood cells that are responsible for keeping your body healthy.

Increased Liver Function

When you are exposed to direct sunlight, the light triggers reactions that cause the liver to function at an increased rate. So why is this helpful? This is important because the liver is the main organ behind filtering the waste out of our body. This coupled with the fact that more blood flows through the body when in sunlight means that more blood can be filtered of waste faster.

Heart Health

As I mentioned before, when in sunlight your body's blood circulation increases. This is because the blood cells in the skin dilate allowing for easier flow. This also decreases blood pressure making it easier for your heart to pump blood.

Vitamin D

UV light from the sun allows for the body to perform the chemical reaction which is responsible for producing the majority of the vitamin D your body consumes. Vitamin D is very important because it is directly related to immune system functions.

Cancer Prevention

Although extreme overexposure to sunlight can increase your chances of getting skin cancer, proper sun exposure with the aid of proper protection, like a hat and sunscreen, can actually help prevent other cancers including breast cancer.

Hormones

When in exposure to sunlight the brain releases endorphins. Endorphins stimulate an overall happy mental mood and because endorphins are the bodies natural anti-depressants, not enough sunlight can lead to a lack of endorphins leading to depression

Increased Metabolism

Did you know that sunlight can help you loose weight? When exposed to sunlight the body's metabolism increases resulting in faster food consumption and better maintained blood sugar levels.

Natural Disinfectant

Because the sun releases UV light, sunlight can also serve as a disinfectant by killing off all the bad bacteria living on your skin

Improved Sleep

When in exposure to the sun, the body produces more of another hormone called melatonin. This hormone encourages sleep allowing you to sleep better through the night.

Skin Health

Once again, because of the UV light, proper exposure to sunlight can improve many skin conditions including fungal infections and acne.