By Marlien Wright | 23 Mar, 2023
Are you getting enough sunlight (and kisses)?
Table of Contents
The science behind the importance of sunshine
How much sunlight we need everyday?Circadian SignallingReferences:The science behind the importance of sunshine
Sunlight is a primary source of vitamin D, which is essential for human health. Vitamin D helps in the absorption of calcium, which is important for maintaining strong bones and teeth.
Exposure to sunlight helps regulate our circadian rhythm, which is the body’s internal clock that helps regulate sleep and wake cycles.
Sunlight can boost mood and reduce the risk of depression. Exposure to sunlight helps stimulate the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is associated with feelings of happiness and well-being.
Sunlight can improve immune function by stimulating the production of white blood cells, which help fight off infections and diseases.
Sunlight has been shown to have a positive effect on your skin health by helping to reduce the risk of certain skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and acne.
How much sunlight we need everyday?
The amount of sunlight needed by an individual can vary depending on factors such as skin type, geographical location, and time of day. However, one should not underestimate the importance of sunshine and it is generally recommended that adults get at least 10-15 minutes of direct sunlight exposure on the arms, legs, and face two to three times a week to maintain adequate levels of vitamin D.
It is important to note that excessive exposure to sunlight can also be harmful and increase the risk of skin cancer. It is recommended to wear protective clothing and sunscreen when spending extended periods of time in the sun.
Circadian Signalling
Sunlight hitting your eyes first thing in the morning benefits you! Even on a overcast day.
Recent research has shows that exposure to sunlight in the morning, particularly within the first hour after waking up, can have a variety of benefits for human health. This exposure to sunlight helps to reset the body’s circadian rhythm, which can help to improve sleep quality, mood, and cognitive performance throughout the day.
In particular, sunlight exposure in the morning has been shown to help reduce symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that is related to changes in the seasons and reduced exposure to sunlight. This again illustrates the importance of sunshine.
Blood Sugar Balancing and Sunlight: Studies have also found that morning sunlight exposure can improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood pressure, which are both important factors in reducing the risk of metabolic disorders such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
And what about the kisses? Was that click bait? Nope, here is an actual method to move towards finding out what your greater/ higher purpose is. Figuring out what your higher purpose is, can be difficult, the key is to get yourself into a dreamy, happy state of mind (which is the opposite of feeling worried/ in overwhelm/ or in self-doubt).
Try this simple exercise: remember your first kiss (or the first one that actually gave you butterfly’s) and really relive it. Then directly after (while you are in that happy state) move your thoughts to what really energises you – what you feel like doing if money/ time etc was not an issue. Write these activities down. Dream, vision. But before you do, make sure you are in a happy, relaxed and dreamy state.
This state can also be accessed in other ways such as directly after a blissful yoga class/ run/ hike in nature, or after a visit with friends who make you laugh, or after having read a beautiful ending to a book/ or listening to music that gives you goosebumps. Use this feeling, and hear your inner voice and what it yearns for.
Or, just go outside and let the sun kiss your face, even on a cloudy day.
In dedication to your radiant well+being
Marlien
PS: Please consider sharing this post with those who you may think it can benefit.Or for more posts like these navigate to www.ykwellbeing.com
References:
Cashman, K. D., Dowling, K. G., Škrabáková, Z., Gonzalez-Gross, M., Valtueña, J., De Henauw, S., et al. (2016). Vitamin D deficiency in Europe: pandemic? American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 103(4), 1033-1044. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.115.120873
Gooley, J. J., Chamberlain, K., Smith, K. A., Khalsa, S. B. S., Rajaratnam, S. M. W., Van Reen, E., et al. (2011). Exposure to room light before bedtime suppresses melatonin onset and shortens melatonin duration in humans. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 96(3), E463-E472. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2010-2098
Holick, M. F. (2007). Vitamin D deficiency. New England Journal of Medicine, 357(3), 266-281. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra070553
Holick, M. F., Binkley, N. C., Bischoff-Ferrari, H. A., Gordon, C. M., Hanley, D. A., Heaney, R. P., et al. (2011). Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: An Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 96(7), 1911-1930. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2011-0385
National Institutes of Health. Office of Dietary Supplements. (n.d.). Vitamin D. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/
Partonen, T. (2007). Effects of light therapy on mood and brain activation by positron emission tomography. Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 31(2), 571-577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2006.11.011
Partonen, T., & Lönnqvist, J. (1998). Seasonal affective disorder. The Lancet, 351(9097), 925-929. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(97)12336-4
Schalka, S., & Reis, V. M. R. (2013). Influence of solar radiation on cutaneous immunity: Review of literature. Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia, 88(5), 761-766. https://doi.org/10.1590/abd1806-4841.20132215
Smolensky, M. H., Sackett-Lundeen, L. L., & Portaluppi, F. (2015). Nocturnal light pollution and underexposure to daytime sunlight: Complementary mechanisms of circadian disruption and related diseases. Chronobiology International, 32(8), 1029-1048. https://doi.org/10.3109/07420528.2015.1072002
Weller, R. (2016). Sunlight has cardiovascular benefits independently of vitamin D. Blood Purification, 41(1-3), 130-134. https://doi.org/10.1159/000441371
Wright Jr., K. P., Bogan, R.
