For one, catching rays helps give you a Vitamin-D boost!
Yes, sun exposure could lead to wrinkles, sun damage, and skin cancer, but that doesn’t mean you should shun the sun altogether. You’re not a vampire. You’re human, and humans still need sunlight.
No doubt you should put on sunblock regularly, but you should still catch some rays to stay healthy, even while on enhanced community quarantine. Go out in your front porch, backyard, or balcony, or throw the windows open and let the sunshine in (while practicing physical distancing, of course). Because moderate exposure to sunshine actually has many health benefits. Here are just a few of them…
Related: 7 Simple Ways You Can Boost Your Immunity During Lockdown
It Helps You Sleep Better at Night
COVID-19 has probably given you many sleepless nights. It’s understandable since there’s so much uncertainty and anxiety about the pandemic. UChicago Medicine notes that this is to be expected during this time, “Elevated stress and an overload of information can keep the mind racing and elevate the body’s arousal system response, triggering insomnia.” And that’s bad news for your immune system, which needs ample sleep and rest in order to function properly.
If you want to get a good night’s sleep, get at least 30 minutes of sunshine in the morning or an hour if you’re having trouble sleeping at night, says the National Institutes of Health in the US.
Exposure to sunlight improves your circadian rhythm, helping properly regulate melatonin (aka the “sleepy hormone”) production. “Your body is more efficient at recognizing when it’s evening after receiving some sunshine-fueled input during the day,” says self.com.
It Boosts Your Mood
Speaking of anxiety, the pandemic has also had a negative impact on people’s mental health (hence why so many are plagued with insomnia). You’re constantly worried and anxious, you’re grieving, you’re scared. There are so many thoughts racing through your mind and emotions to process. If you’re looking for something to lift your spirits, getting some sun might help.
According to Forbes, “Moderate sunlight exposure helps improve your mood and focus by boosting the serotonin levels in your body. Also known as the ‘happiness hormone,’ it makes you calm and alert.”
Adds Self, “Exposure to natural light during the day (especially in the morning) is crucial for keeping your body rhythms in sync and regulating sleep, metabolism and mood.
It Lowers Your Blood Pressure
If you’re suffering from high blood pressure, it might do you some good to go outside and get some sun. According to CBS News, a recent study conducted by Scottish scientists reveals that moderate exposure to sunlight triggers the release of a compound in the blood vessels that leads to a drop in blood pressure.
It Helps Keep the Weight Off
Snacking obsessively during the ECQ? Here’s another reason to go sunbathing in the morning: Researchers have discovered that adults who are exposed to sunshine in the morning have a lower body mass index (BMI) and a trimmer waistline, says Forbes.
It’s partly due to the fact that people who get ample sun exposure sleep better at night, and that in turn, getting enough sleep contributes to better weight management. But there was still “a connection between morning sun and staying slim that wasn’t just due to better sleep,” notes Business Insider.
It Provides You with Much-Needed Vitamin D
Because the pandemic is no time to get sick, it’s vital to get the vitamins and minerals needed to stay healthy and boost your immunity. Vitamin D is a nutrient that’s primarily associated with bone, muscle, and nerve health, but is also known to contribute to a healthy immune system, says Medical News Today.
“Also, laboratory studies show that vitamin D can reduce cancer cell growth, help control infections, and reduce inflammation,” adds Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Vitamin D is primarily derived from exposure to the sun. According to Medical News Today, “Vitamin D is a type of nutrient that the body produces when a person’s skin has exposure to direct sunlight. People can also consume vitamin D, but it is not naturally present in many foods.”
Nicknamed the “sunshine vitamin,” it is synthesized when the sun’s UVB rays hits your skin and turns cholesterol to vitamin D, notes Healthline.
If you’re not getting enough sunlight and/or suspect you may have a vitamin-D deficiency, ask your doctor if you need to or should take vitamin D supplements.
Aside from skincare and other personal care products, Bella Pelle Philippines has expanded to providing nutritional supplements like vitamin C, probiotics, and vitamin D. And you can purchase them online and have them delivered straight to your doorstep.
Metagenics D3 2000 Complex, P1,500
Delivers 2,000 IU of the preferred form of Vitamin D (as Vitamin D3), and has an isoflavone-activated formula that enables better utilization of vitamin D3. Find out more about the Metagenics D3 2000 Complex here.
Vitamin D plays a role in bone growth, blood pressure regulation, cardiovascular function, and enhances immune function and insulin secretion. Studies also suggest that vitamin D3 reduces the tendencies of depression and likelihood of developing flu.
Again, it’s important to remember to consult a medical practitioner before taking any form of nutritional supplement. And it’s important to remember that Vitamin D (or any of the other items on this list) will not cure or prevent you from getting COVID-19.
Safe Sun Exposure
These benefits should by no means encourage you to ditch sunscreen altogether. Remember that there are serious risks related to unprotected sun exposure. There are ways, however, to get adequate sunlight safely.
According to Healthline, the WHO recommends getting anywhere from five to 15 minutes of sunlight on your arms, hands, and face two to three times a week to get an ample dose of vitamin D. “Note that the sun must penetrate the skin. Wearing sunscreen or clothing over your skin won’t result in vitamin D production,” says Healthline. Neither will standing by a closed window, since the glass will filter the rays of the sun.
“But if you’re going to be outside for more than 15 minutes, it’s a good idea to protect your skin. You can do that by applying sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Wearing a protective hat and shirt can also help.”
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