Sunlight and Its Effects

Winter season is almost over and we shall soon be experiencing the full blaze of Indian summer. For all those folks who believe that sunlight tans the skin, accelerates wrinkle formation on the skin or even causes skin disorders due to cancer, here are few words for your enlightenment.

Starting with the absolute basics, sunlight showers on us the much needed Vitamin D. Sun rays have enormous power that affects the whole of creation. All living beings wake up at sunrise (except humans!). Flowers blossom with the first rays of the sun. Over the years, Scientists and Doctors teamed up to discover more powerful effects of sunlight on human conditions. Briefly,

Sunlight Prevents Cancer

Similar to photosynthesis in plants, human have metabolic processes which process sunlight into Vitamin D. This life giving Vitamins, when deficient in the human body leads to conditions that increase Cancer risk. Sunshine's UV-B rays interact with the cholesterol present in our skin that initiates a process to generate vitamin D from our liver and kidney.

Sunlight Eases Depression

Multiple studies have been conducted to determine the correlation between mood and sunlight. The chemical ‘serotonin’ secreted in the human body is an anti-depressant. On bright and sunny days, body generates more of this chemical. The best time of the day to receive these beneficial rays is early morning.

Sunlight Strengthens Bones

With age, bone strength gradually decreases. The absorption of Calcium is facilitated by vitamin D in the body. To be more specific, sunlight produces Vitamin D3. All the reason to warm up in the sun!

Sunlight Help You Sleep Better

When sunlight hits the human optic nerve, message is sent to the brain to secrete ‘melatonin’. This chemical helps induce sleep. In other words, daily exposure to sunlight for few minutes helps the glands secrete Melatonin during sleep time. This is all the more important to aging individuals as they seldom step out of the house.

Thus said, we have enough reasons to step out of the closed rooms and gain exposure to the warm life giving rays of the sun.