You have to go get some sun right now and here’s why..
So here in Northern California it has been raining for what feels like months. Everyday is overcast, raining and cold. I have always been a winter kind of gal til this year. We have had a non-stop wet and cold season and while I should just be thankful for all the water and snow pack..I’m ready for some sun.
ANYWAYS, since we haven’t seen the sun in at least a week I wanted write up a list about the importance of sun and what getting just a few minutes a day does for us and our health, both physical and mental. If ur anything like me you’re always standing in the shade or have a hat on in the sun, but we gotta get a little sunlight! Also, 1 bonus tip at the end which may be my favorite of them all!
1: Vitamin D
We all know that sun exposure provides us with essential Vitamin D we need. But..
How much sun do we need?
10-30 mins of midday sunlight provides us with a fair amount of Vitamin D.
Benefits of Vitamin D:
- Assists in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus which,
- Keeps bones strong
- Reduces cancer cell growth
- Helps control infections
- Reduces inflammation
- Helps control high blood pressure
- Boosts the immune system
2: Serotonin
The science behind the process of absorption of Serotonin is absolutely fascinating.
When sunlight hits your eyes it actually stimulates the retina sending signals to the brain to make serotonin. The body is just so amazing!
Benefits of Serotonin:
- Mood booster
- Creates a healthy appetite
- Aids in digestion
- Promotes better sleep
- Improves brain function
- Increased libido
3: Sleep
Soaking up the sun in the morning is fantastic to help keep our Circadian Rhythm (body’s internal clock) healthy.
Getting up in the morning and opening the blinds and letting the sunlight in is so crucial to letting our body know it is time to wake up and get going for the day. This causes your hypothalamus to send signals to your brain when to wake up and when to go to sleep. Which, in the long run, can help you wake up easier in the morning and get to bed at a decent time.
4: Energy
We kind of touched on this one because we went over the vitamins you’re getting from sunlight but I wanted this to have a spot of its own. Energy is something, I feel, at least 90% of people always want more of! Wether you need it to keep up with your kids, your pets, cleaning, cooking or just trying to get through that 3pm slump most of us could always use a little more energy.
When that midday nap time creeps in something that is proven to help is take 10-15 mins and just go outside. Just go stand in the sun. Put ur phone in ur pocket or leave it inside and just stand there, let it warm your face, turn around and let it beat on your back. Just close your eyes and be in that sunny moment. I can almost guarantee when you go back in you will feel a little more awake!! At least for a little while, then maybe it’s time for more coffee.
5: Happiness
The sun is such a mood booster. Have you ever experienced weeks on end of clouds and rain?! Eventually you’ll start to feel just generally sad or depressed. Which is my theory why people who live in warm, sunny places always seem generally happier. It’s just all that beautiful sun!
Sunlight naturally boosts our mood with that thing we talked about earlier, Serotonin! It increases production no matter the temperature outside! So even if it’s cold, bundle up and head outside to let as much skin as you can absorb those rays!
Bonus tip:
Earthing
Since we’re talking about the importance of getting outside for a little sun each day I wanted to mention this tip.
You should stand on earth ground for at least 15 mins per day with bare feet. The benefits of this are seriously impressive from everything from helping headaches to blood pressure to relieving stress.
Something I always do now when I have a headache is go and Earth a little bit. Grounding yourself causes a fusing of electrons in your body with the rest of the earth. There have been some seriously fascinating studies done about it. Someday soon I’ll write about it and include it here.
I could write a whole post just on this but we’ll just keep it short. For about 15 mins a day take ur shoes off and walk across ur yard or sit in the grass and just feel the ground beneath ur toes.
Conclusion
Sun is essential for our existence but it also can have serious internal health benefits if we take advantage of what it has to offer.
So next time you’re feeling down, sickly, tired or even just lazy go soak up those rays! They may just make your day!
