Health Benefits Of Sunbathing

It won’t be easy to believe sun exposure can benefit the skin, even on cloudy days. Sunbathing is lying or sitting in the Sun for different intents to tan or get other health benefits. There is a major difference between tanning time in the Sun and going out in the sun without wearing sunscreen. There is limited exposure time to achieve the health benefits of sunbathing daily.

Benefits of daily sunbathing

If you perceive sunbaths as a waste of time, it is time to change your perspective. Sunbathing has more than normal benefits, one can imagine for the body’s health.

• Hypertension check

Sunbathing is especially helpful for individuals dealing with hypertension. According to the observations, a daily dose of sunbath can help in the activation of nitric oxide, which is present in the skin’s topmost layer. It helps in improving the circulation of the blood by vasodilation (widening of the blood vessels). This phenomenon helps in keeping the levels of blood pressure in check.

• Remedy for healing skin-related issues

If you think the sun’s rays have a detrimental effect on your skin, then think twice because sunbathing in the early morning can give immense benefits to the skin.

According to medical research, sunbathing is proven to be an effective remedy for dealing with severe skin issues. In the case of open wounds, sunlight at appropriate times can help with accelerated healing due to exposure to heat. Heat improves blood circulation to the wounded target, accelerating healing and wound closing.

• Check on Diabetes

With a daily sunbathing routine, you can keep a check on your diabetes levels daily. The reason behind this profound monitoring is the presence of vitamin D in the sunlight, which acts as the perennial for the production of body insulin. This specific compound can help in avoiding or controlling diabetes in the body.

• Boost Vitamin D supply

Vitamin D is vital for health and sunbathing can boost the vitamin D supply because the Sun is the richest source of vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for various health functions such as protecting against cancer, dementia, and brain aging. Sunbathing can increase the vitamin D supply and it is also helpful in boosting the immune system.

• Reduced depression and better sleep

A daily dose of sunbathing has been proven effective in preventing exaggerated symptoms of depression. According to scientific pieces of evidence, sunlight triggers the pituitary gland in the brain to release a specific neurotransmitter or hormone known as serotonin.

This hormone can boost mood and improve feelings of positivity and calmness. Even in the absence of depression, a daily sunbath at the appropriate times is more likely to boost the mood. During the winter season, sunbathing can positively boost the mood and regulate the temperature needs. A 15-minute daily sunbath can make a depressed patient much calmer and more energized. Similarly, a daily sunbath can help regulate your circadian rhythm, and your body will start getting drowsy by sunset.

• Enhance  immune system and stronger bones

According to medical research, daily sunbathing can help the body absorb more calcium, which in turn helps develop stronger bones. Sunlight can help prevent diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis in men and women.

For babies undergoing vitamin D deficiency, it is advised to take the early morning sunbath for almost 10-15 minutes. Avoid getting out in the Sun during extreme sunlight times. Similarly, vitamin D helps the human body fight diseases such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, flu, heart diseases, and muscle sclerosis. A good amount of vitamin D through natural sunlight can help boost immunity without requiring synthetic supplements or products.

• Relaxation

A daily dose of sunbathing is unbeatable in terms of relaxation and inducing calmness in the overall body. Sunlight contains the elements to induce relaxation in the body. This is why you feel drowsy while sitting in the Sun during winter. Sunbathing can calm the cramped or unrelaxed muscles and help the brain’s cognitive development.

Research which was published in the American Medical Association Journal, it was found that patients who were suffering from Alzheimer’s disease had positive effects from daily sunbaths. Patients exposed to bright sunlight daily had fewer depression and forgetfulness symptoms.

• Prevention of multiple sclerosis

According to several research studies, sunbathing is essential for health. Researchers found people living at higher latitudes receive less direct sunlight and have a higher incidence and prevalence of multiple sclerosis.

Dosage of daily sunbath

According to some dermatologists, you can regularly sunbathe for about 20 minutes without wearing sunscreen if you don’t experience unusual complications or problems due to sun exposure. To reduce the risk of induced sunburn, you can minimize sunbathing to about 5-10 minutes daily.

Moreover, the body’s response to typical sunlight also depends upon the area in which you live (closer to the equator) and air quality. Poor quality of air can block ultraviolet radiation. According to some research, getting a lot of sun therapy or sunlight dose at once can be more damaging than getting a slower dosage with time.

The safe ways to take daily sunbath are:

• Wear a mild SPF product and apply it for at least 15 minutes before going outside. You need to make sure that your body is covered in at least one full ounce of SPF or sunscreen.
• Avoid tanning beds. Tanning beds can be dangerous, and most of them barely contain the UVB light required for the stimulation of vitamin D production.
• In case of getting hot or getting exhausted, you can take breaks in the shade.
• During prolonged periods of sunbathing, do not forget to keep your body hydrated by drinking water and applying moisturizers.
• During the sessions of daily sunbath, increase the consumption of tomatoes in your diet. According to the evidence, tomatoes contain lycopene, which can help prevent the redness of the skin due to increased exposure to UV rays.
• In case of any sunburn, immediately terminate the bathing session.

References:

1. Lucas, R. M., & Ponsonby, A. L. (2006). Considering the potential benefits as well as adverse effects of sun exposure: can all the potential benefits be provided by oral vitamin D supplementation? Progress in biophysics and molecular biology, 92(1), 140-149.
2. Van der Rhee, H. J., de Vries, E., & Coebergh, J. W. (2016). Regular sun exposure benefits health. Medical hypotheses, 97, 34-37.
3. Bränström, R., Brandberg, Y., Holm, L., Sjöberg, L., & Ullen, H. (2001). Beliefs, knowledge, and attitudes as predictors of sunbathing habits and use of sun protection among Swedish adolescents. European Journal of Cancer Prevention, 337-345.
4. Beech, J. R., Sheehan, E., & Barraclough, S. (1996). Attitudes toward health risks and sunbathing behavior. The Journal of Psychology, 130(6), 669-677.

Body, Mind, And Soul For A Fulfilled Life!