The risks that come with unprotected sun exposure are widely known with people knowing that it leads to problems such as skin cancer, eye damage, freckles, wrinkles, and sunburn. With plentiful research done on the risk of sun exposure, it can’t be denied that the sun is, in most cases, bad for health. But do you know, getting sufficient exposure to sunlight is not only beneficial but is necessary as well?
Why do you need sunlight?
Following are the reasons why you need enough sunlight.
- Keeps you happy
Sunlight can trigger the release of particular hormones in the brain. It is believed that exposure to sunlight increases the secretion of a hormone known as Serotonin. This hormone not only boosts a person’s mood but can help him or her feel focused and calm as well. With insufficient exposure to the sun, the levels of serotonin fall. Reduced levels of serotonin are often linked with a higher chance of major depression with a seasonal pattern.
- Helps get better sleep
At night when it is dark, the brain is triggered once again to produce another hormone known as melatonin which is responsible for helping you sleep. When you step outside the next day, the production of melatonin is stopped because of the sun. In turn, you stop feeling drowsy.
- Builds stronger bones
When a person is exposed to the ultraviolet-B radiation present in the rays of the sun, the skin starts to create vitamin D. This vitamin made with the help of the sun has a significant role in bone health. Reduced vitamin D levels have been associated with rickets in children as well as bone-wasting diseases like osteomalacia and osteoporosis.
- Helps prevent cancer
One widely known fact about sunlight is that excess amount of it can cause skin cancer. However, a moderate amount has preventive benefits when talking about cancer. Research suggests that those people who live in such areas where daylight hours are few are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with particular kind of cancers as compared to those who live in areas with more sunlight hours. Some cancers include colon cancer, ovarian cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, prostate cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
- Helps to heal skin conditions
There is some research which suggests that exposure to the sun helps to treat numerous skin conditions. In fact, doctors recommend exposure to UV radiation for treating acne, eczema, psoriasis, and jaundice. Keep in mind that light therapy isn’t suitable for everyone and you must first talk to your dermatologist whether light treatment will be beneficial for your skin condition or not.
- Increases productivity
According to a study, employees that work in natural light were recorded to have higher energy levels as compared to those that worked under artificial light. Similarly, another study also showed that checkout counters that are present beneath skylights have higher sales at checkout. Both of these lead to one conclusion; natural lights improves productivity.
- Benefits vision
Today, we are constantly surrounded by smartphones, computer screens, and fluorescent lights. All of them lead to eye strain which eventually turns into permanent ye damage. Natural light, on the other hand, reduced the risk of nearsightedness in young adults as well as in children. This is because sunlight helps the eye to produce a hormone called dopamine which aids in the healthy development of the eyes.
Conclusion
Remember that you can only benefit the health benefits of sunlight while simultaneously avoiding the risks by finding a balance and getting moderate exposure. Ideally, roughly around 10 to 15 minutes under the sun without any sunscreen are enough to enjoy the benefits.
