Sunshine Provides Goodness From Nature
Sunshine provides goodness from Nature! Summer is such a fun time of year. Personally, I love being outside. Whether I’m fishing on a lake, enjoying a glass of wine on the deck, playing or watching my favorite sport or “absorbing the rays” while visiting my favorite swimming spot, am I giving my body something good and healthy or am I doing something I shouldn’t be doing and harming my body?
The answer to this question depends on who you are asking. Many people believe that the sun is bad. It causes skin cancer, cataracts and ages the skin. Many health professionals will tell you “Cover up and wear suntan lotion and sunglasses at all times. Stay out of the sun from 10 AM-4 PM because this is when the sun causes the most damage.
I have to say that I’m not sure this is the best advice. I do believe in moderation, but somehow I can’t have bad feelings about sunshine! Sunshine boosts my mood, makes me feel happy and energized and just makes my day better. I have a hard time believing that something that is necessary for our body to function optimally, should be considered bad and something to be eliminated from our day:
Our body is designed to make Vitamin D from sunshine
Sunlight entering our eyes stimulates the production of mood altering and sleep inducing brain chemicals
Our mood is directly affected by the amount sunlight entering our eyes
Sunlight affects our sleep and wake cycle (Circadian rhythm). (Tips to improve sleep)
Sunshine does so many good things for our body to function optimally; I just can’t say that the sun is bad for us. 30 minutes a day in the bright sunlight without sunscreen allows your body to make essential amounts Vitamin D. The best times of the day for absorbing the rays are before 10 AM or after 4 PM. I was told by a respected physician I worked with, “If you don’t have a tan line, you aren’t getting enough sunshine.” The same 30 minutes in bright sunlight without sunglasses allows the sun’s light to be absorbed through the optic nerve to stimulate the manufacturing of our necessary brain chemicals. Are you having trouble sleeping? Maybe all you need is more sunshine!
Don’t be afraid of the Sun. Our body has been designed to need and use sunlight. Sunshine helps us to be healthy. Be smart. Choose the right time of day. If you will be in the sun for an extended period of time, a little suntan lotion and sunglasses may be required. Most of all, enjoy these fun filled summer months!