Benefits of Sunlight Exposure to Human Health: All along, the best and most natural nutrients aren’t found in our medicine kits, but rather just outside our homes, right under the sun!
Gone are the days of vitality outside. Work is taking up much time indoors. Everyone’s eyes are hooked up to their screens. The rise of the digital age birthed a population sicker, nature-deprived, and “mal-illuminated” than ever before.
“Mal-illumination is to Light as Malnutrition is to Food.”
— Dr. John Ott
Mal-illumination is the lack of contact with natural light. Like plants, humans need certain doses of sunlight to survive and get the nutrients that they need. But over time, our fear of getting sunburns or worst skin cancer, and even media portrayals strayed us further away from the light. Although sunlight can indeed be harmful to our skin, a moderate level of exposure can outweigh such health risks (except for those with skin problems).
In a time of chaos like this, especially now that we stay shuttered inside our homes as we try to curb the spread of the virus, it is vital to keep our health at an optimal level and find ways on how we can cope with these challenges. The answer, sometimes, points us just a few steps away from our doorsteps. Look no further than the sunlight itself!
Sunlight gifts us the happy hormones
Have you been feeling the blues ever since the surge of the pandemic? The low mood and less energy we’ve been enduring lately can be linked to our long isolation, nature deprivation, and even the lack of contact with natural light. We’ve been caved indoors, hooked onto our screens longer than ever before. The fix? A healthy dose of sunlight! Various studies point out sunlight as the source of serotonin: a hormone that boosts our mood and energy, grants us calmness, and reduces our risk of depression and anxiety.
Sunlight Exposure keeps our body in tip-top condition
Vitamin D keeps our bones and muscles strong and agile, and our immune system in optimal function. One and the most natural source of which is the sun. When the sunlight touches our skin, it produces Vitamin D. According to experts, the best time to take your dose of the sunshine vitamin is generally between 10 AM to 3 PM, when the UV index is above 3, or in simpler terms, when your shadow is shorter than your height.
Sunlight Exposure calibrates our body clock
Have you noticed your irregular body patterns lately? We’ve been up late at night, and sleeping longer during the day. This is because our circadian rhythm, also known as our body clock, has been functioning at an irregular schedule. Circadian rhythm not only controls our body’s sleep-wake cycle, but also controls our energy, mood, appetite, and other mind-body function. As we disconnect ourselves from the sunlight, our body produces less melatonin, a hormone responsible for our sleep and wakefulness patterns. The sun sets our body rhythms and keeps it synchronized with the natural rhythm, especially in harmony with sunrise and sunset, daylight and night.
Shy away from your device’s screen for a while and take your healthy dose of warmth and natural light, especially during midday! Remember, too much exposure to the sun is harmful, but a little healthy dose goes a long way.
Sunlight Air also looks forward to more healthy moments under the sun with everyone. Coming up this October 2021 is our wellness travel package in partnership with Sunlight Ecotourism Island Resort, which promotes outdoor physical and mindfulness activities under the sun and closer to nature. Check out all-inclusive packages at sunlightair.ph/promos.
Download Benefits of Sunlight Exposure to Human Health PDF here.
