Did you know that the sun is an important factor to our health and well being?
Vitamin D sufficiency, along with diet and exercise, has emerged as one of the most important preventive factors in human health. Hundreds of studies now link vitamin D deficiency with significantly higher rates of many forms of cancer‚ as well as heart disease‚ osteoporosis‚ multiple sclerosis and many other conditions and diseases. You’ll get natural vitamin D production through regular, non-burning sun exposure. Between 10 an d 20 minutes with exposing legs and arms in the sun, depending on your skin, the darker skin the longer time you need in the sun.
© Monika Elena Photography -our favourite fashion photographer and one that understands the importance of the sun
Sunlight is the best and only natural source of vitamin D. Unlike dietary or supplementary vitamin D, when you get your ‘D’ from sunshine your body takes what it needs, and de-metabolizes any extra. With glorious days like we are experiencing currently it’s simply enough to be outside in the sun approx 15 minutes every day. But for those days with clouds, rain and snow we should be aware of that there are certain foods that also provides a natural source of vitamin D. Fish liver oil and fatty fish species, such as salmon (wild and organic), mackerel, catfish, eel and tuna.
Lack of sunlight, is also thought to be one reason for depression. For some people lack of sunlight can bring on depression. Many people tend to feel a little down on cloudy days and usually during late autumn and winter. Experts believe that sunlight causes changes in a tiny structure in the brain called the hypothalamus, upsetting the brain chemistry and cause depression.
One easy remedy during the dark winter months is to increase the amount of full-spectrum light exposure that you have, with a full spectrum lamp. After only 30 minutes a day in front of the lamp and you’ll find yourself feeling a lot more happy and with more energy.
But meanwhile… The sun is shining outside! So for now you can forget about eel and full spectrum lamps and just pop out in the sun; 15 minutes a day keeps the doctor away.
Source: sunshinevitamin.org