What are The Benefits of The Sun?

In many parts of the world, many communities celebrate the existence of the sun due to all the benefits it gives to our health, beyond the luminosity.

For example, every June 21, coinciding with the summer solstice (northern hemisphere), the longest day of the year, environmental organizations celebrate the International Day of the Sun to promote and support renewable energy sources. Its benefits are not only linked to planetary balance or our physical balance, it also influences our health and can move us spiritually and emotionally. If you want to know what are the benefits of the sun, I invite you to continue reading.

What are The Benefits of Sun Exposure?

By taking the appropriate precautions, it is possible to take advantage of the hours you spend sunbathing. The skin, the immune system, and the rest benefit greatly from its action.

Vitamin D for Your Bones and Teeth

Did you know that every time you tan, your bones get stronger? Even though the sun will never reach your bones, UV rays help produce vitamin D in the skin. Remember that this vitamin is very important for the mineralization of bones, by promoting the absorption in the intestine of calcium and phosphorus and preventing their loss in the kidney.

Although most vitamins and minerals must be taken in the food, in the case of vitamin D the metabolism has an "ace up its sleeve", since it is capable of manufacturing it in the skin when it has a precursor known as -7-dehydrocholesterol thanks to UV radiation from the sun.

5 or 10 minutes under the sun are enough, two or three times a week to recharge the vitamin D deposits. In geographical areas that have sun all year round, it is very easy to get it, but in countries with fewer hours of sun, there is a higher incidence of rickets in children and osteoporosis and osteomalacia in adults.

Sunbathing Improves The Appearance of Your Skin

If your problem is acne, the sun in moderation can help you, half an hour of sun a day is enough to improve the appearance of your skin. The key is to do it in the morning or late in the afternoon when you are not in danger of being burned, and besides, you should not exceed 30 minutes.

Do not be scared if the first week you suffer a worsening, which means that the sun is causing a cleansing reaction, think that the skin has no other resource to eliminate fat and impurities than to expel what is left over to fix the problem.

After a week the skin will regain its balance and will gradually heal, if not, you may have developed "summer acne", a type of acne that is caused by the moisturizing ingredients in sunscreen creams.

Another skin problem that you can fix with the sun is psoriasis (a skin condition causing redness, scaling, and irritation), now lamps with specific UV frequencies are used to help reduce the diseased areas and eliminate this problem.

The Sun Stimulates Your Defenses

Have you noticed that in the winter after a vacation under the sun, you have less flu and colds? It has been seen that the sun is capable of increasing the number of white blood cells or lymphocytes, the cells responsible for the first defense against infection.

Vitamin D Lowers Blood Pressure

Did you know that some athletes avoid sunbathing before a competition? The sun causes vasodilation of the superficial blood vessels and increases blood circulation in the skin, lowering blood pressure values.

It also increases the metabolism and cleansing of tissues. These beneficial effects can work against a sportsperson since the drop in blood pressure can cause a decrease in alertness before a test, but after the competition or in people with hypertension the sun has a medicinal effect.

The explanation seems to be in vitamin D again, because in the presence of this vitamin the levels of parathyroid hormone decrease, which is responsible for releasing calcium from the bones and regulating blood pressure. When vitamin D levels rise from the sun, parathyroid hormone and blood pressure decrease accordingly.

Sunbathing Prevents Cancer

Did you know that there are cancers that appear more frequently in countries with fewer hours of sunshine? Mediterranean countries have a lower incidence of breast cancer, colon cancer, etc. versus the Nordic countries.

The explanation for this natural protection is once again the protective effect of vitamin D against tumors. Some studies have found that sunlight helps protect not only against breast and colon cancer but also against other tumors such as ovarian, bladder, uterus, stomach, lymphomas, and prostate.

Exposure to the sun should be done moderately and at an appropriate time.

Sunlight Favors The Mood

Do you feel better after sunbathing? It seems that in the sunlight it is easier to see the positive side of life and tiredness, depression, and stress are removed.

The explanation is that UV rays increase the production of a neurotransmitter related to the sensation of well-being: serotonin, which also intervenes in the regulation of sleep, body temperature, and sexual behavior. It does not take many scientific experiments to know that the weather affects emotions.

A few years ago, a psychological alteration known as seasonal affective disorder or SAD was described, affecting 20% of the population and characterized by the appearance of depressive symptoms in winter, which disappears when the weather is good.

It Enhances Sleep Quality

Do you feel that you sleep better and fewer hours after sunbathing? In summer the days get longer and it is easier for us to get up rested despite having slept only a few hours. The explanation again is due to the effect of UV rays on another hormone: melatonin, which is responsible for many functions, including regulating sleep cycles.

Melatonin levels in the blood are highest at night when there is no light. When there is light, the melatonin drops and we feel more awake and active. So if you want to make the most of the hours of the day, nothing better than taking advantage of the wake-up effects of sunlight, as if it were your morning coffee.

Vitamin D Protects Against Multiple Sclerosis

What does a degenerative disease of the central nervous system have to do with the sun? Scientists have not discovered it yet, but it seems that the relationship is in the increase in vitamin D levels, but the facts speak for themselves: the incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) is higher in countries with fewer hours of sunlight. It seems that sun exposure in childhood dramatically reduces the risk of developing this disease in the future.

Does Meditation in The Sun Have any Benefit?

There is no doubt that the Sun is the source of life on our planet. But for many, it is much more than that. At the level of consciousness, it is an intermediary between us and the Original Source from which everything comes.

The ancient traditions knew this and practiced rites and ceremonies in gratitude to that light and that heat that ensured life, and food and that provided a direct connection with the primordial energy that gave rise to the Universe. Today, for example, it is very common to see people in India meditating at sunrise because the Sun has an intense and inspiring spirituality. They want to be blessed and full of positive energy.

According to the yogis, meditating on the Sun puts us in contact with the sacred dimension of life that it symbolizes. It puts us in contact with our deep inner Sun, i.e., with our own being. In addition to providing the benefits we have mentioned above, the sun has benefits on an emotional level providing peace. The Sun purifies our minds and heals our hearts.

You can also read Inner Harmony: Exploring Yoga and Meditation in Hinduism

What are The Effects of Low Sun Exposure?

Have you ever wondered what would happen to your body if you didn't expose yourself to the sun? A video published by Life Noggin that is echoed by various health websites such as Medical Daily is responsible for explaining it. The published video has more than four million views already.

It explains that a dose of vitamin D necessary for the body is absorbed through the skin and is obtained with exposure to the sun. It is practically impossible to obtain the necessary amounts of this vitamin through food. Not many contain it and most in very small amounts. That is why many specialists claim that vitamin D obtained from the sun is synthesized better than what we receive through food and supplements.

As we mentioned before, the absence of vitamin D in the body is related to a greater probability of suffering from chronic bone diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. Multiple sclerosis and prostate cancer have also been linked to the absence of this vitamin. On the other hand, the sun has other positive effects on the body. It causes an increase in nitric oxide in blood and skin. It also lowers blood pressure, which is directly related to a decreased risk of coronary heart disease.

The specialists are always reminding us to protect ourselves from the sun, turning it into a kind of enemy, a knight in golden armor ready to burn us, age us, and dehydrate us! But the sun is very beneficial both physically and spiritually as long as we expose ourselves to it with caution. Also, it is an immediate effect medicine for optimism, happiness, good humor, and energy. There are many benefits that it brings us and the best of all is that it is free!

My Favorite Products for Safe Sunbathing

I like to sunbathe with proper care, for example, I take into account the schedules to do so without causing damage to my skin. However, I have quite dry skin so I always have to take care of it (in summer and winter), I use a lot of sunscreen, moisturizing creams, etc. Below, I leave you my favorite list of the products I use to make sunbathing at home a complete and healthy routine.

Organix Mantra Squalane UV Bliss Sunscreen SPF 45 Gel PA++++ Broad Spectrum | Aloe & Shiitake Mushroom Extract | For Men & Women | Hydrating & Lightweight | For All Skin Types | No White Cast | 50ml

Organix Mantra Squalane UV Bliss Sunscreen is a hydrating, lightweight sunscreen gel with SPF 45 protection. It is suitable for all skin types and leaves no white cast. This sunscreen contains squalane, rose water, aloe vera extracts, and bamboo extracts to help reduce inflammation and redness. Other ingredients include witch hazel extracts, sugarcane extracts, and corn extracts.

The Derma Co 1% Hyaluronic Sunscreen SPF 50 Aqua Gel, PA++++, Lightweight, No white-cast for Broad Spectrum & Blue Light Protection for Oily and Dry Skin - 80g

The Derma Co 1% Hyaluronic Sunscreen Aqua Gel is a lightweight, fragrance-free, and non-greasy broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen that protects your skin from UVA, UVB rays, and even blue light. It contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate your skin and vitamin E to keep it looking youthful, making it suitable for all skin types, including normal, oily, acne-prone, and blemish-prone.

AVEIL Heat Shield Gel SPF 50 Sunscreen With PA+++ - 50ml | Dermatologically Tested For All Skin Types | Suitable for Normal, Oily or Acne Prone Skin | Paraben & Paraffin free | Sun Protection From UVA, UVB, IR And No White Cast

AVEIL Heat Shield Gel is a broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen that protects your skin from UVA, UVB, and IR rays. It is suitable for all skin types, including normal, oily, or acne-prone skin. It is also paraben and paraffin-free, making it a good choice for those with sensitive skin.

Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion, 354 ml (Bottle might vary)

This is a lotion for people with sensitive skin. It includes oatmeal and shea butter to moisturize and relieve itchy skin. The lotion is clinically tested and dermatologist recommended.

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