Sunlight serves many functions. From radiating light and heat to power all the living things on earth to allowing plants to perform photosynthesis, there’s no denying that the presence of sunlight is the very reason why we’re going about our day. However, aside from the basic benefits of sunlight, many people may not be aware that just being under the sun, especially during the morning, brings about many positive effects on our overall health. This is the reason many medical and fitness professionals have recommended taking a walk or exercising in the mornings as it helps in boosting our health. To find out more benefits of morning sunlight, continue reading.
Increases Seratonin
Seratonin is a chemical released from our brains whenever we’re happy or in a good mood. As such, increased serotonin production helps reduce the likelihood of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions, making us feel more relaxed and calm along the way. This is exactly what our bodies would do when exposed to morning sunlight. Now, whenever you’re feeling down, having a bad mood, or facing a stressful situation, a great way to alleviate these negative emotions is by heading outdoors and being under the sun for a few minutes.
Increases Production of Vitamin D
While you can gain vitamin D by consuming foods, such as salmon, tuna fish, and beef liver, your body naturally produces vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D is essentially a powerhouse vitamin, bringing about many advantages to our bodies. From building up and maintaining strong bones to lowering blood pressure, our bodies heavily rely on vitamin D to carry out their daily functions. Other benefits of vitamin D include enhancing the immune system, boosting mental health, and reducing the risk of heart disease, to name a few.
Improves Sleep Quality
Constant exposure to morning sunlight helps our bodies to regulate our circadian rhythm better, which essentially unconsciously tells our bodies to increase or decrease our melatonin levels. This means that the longer we’re out in the sun, our bodies would have an easier time shutting off when nighttime arrives, and it’s time to head to bed. Having a good sleep is not only important for older adults, but for everyone as well, since poor sleep quality and sleep deprivation can lead to a number of health complications, such as high blood pressure, poor mental health, and an increased risk of heart disease and other illnesses.
Prevents Cancer
As our bodies produce more vitamin D, this helps reduce the likelihood of cancer. However, it does not necessarily mean that exposure to sunlight decreases the risk of cancer. Based on multiple studies, medical professionals have seen that people who lead an active lifestyle have a 30% to 50% reduction in the risk of prostate, breast, colon, and lung cancers.
Extended Life Expectancy
This shouldn’t be too surprising as increased exposure to sunlight leads to a higher quality of life and well-being. These all help in extending your life expectancy, allowing you to live a longer and more satisfying life. In fact, a study consisting of 30,000 women in Sweden has shown that people who spend more time outdoors live two years longer than those who don’t.
