Health Benefits of Sunlight – How Sunlight Impacts Mental and Physical Health?

When we mention “sunlight” people get concern about UVA, UVB rays, sun burn, skin tan and all negative impacts of sunlight. However, when it’s time analyze the source of vitamin D, people get seriously confused how to soak in with sunlight and gain all necessary benefits. Don’t worry, we are here today to answer all your queries and concerns regarding sunlight and its health benefits. Moderate exposure to sunlight especially the early morning sunlight are highly beneficial for health.

These sun rays are devoid of UVA, UVB and UVC rays and are completely safe for your health and skin. The sunlight after 10 AM till 3 PM are harmful for health due to presence of high ultraviolet radiation. Before the pandemic outbreak, people were not that interested in sunlight and its health benefits, however the immunity game and its importance has made people realize the importance of sunlight and its impacts on mental and physical health. Here are the health benefits of sunlight.

PHYSICAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF SUNLIGHT

1. Relaxes body

Early morning sunlight have significant potential in relaxing your body and rejuvenating skin tissues. When you absorb tender sunlight, you not only relax your body muscles but also soak in the goodness of nature which helps you to gain physical relaxation and kick start your day with afresh energy levels.

2. Good source of vitamin D

Sunlight is a great source of vitamin D, especially the tender sunlight between 6 AM to 10 AM. 15 minutes of sun exposure can supply enough healthy amount of vitamin D. People who are diagnosed with deficiency of vitamin D can start soaking in early sunlight to encourage cell growth and reduce chronic inflammation.

3. Strengthens immunity

Sunlight is considered as the perfect immunity booster. Vitamin D from sunlight can boost body natural immune system. Naive human T cells that manifest low levels of signaling molecule required for activation of T cells in response to antigens. Hence, vitamin D is needed for signaling molecule expression to improve body natural immunity.

4. Improves bone health

Vitamin D is one of the key components for better bone health. In addition to that sunlight helps in calcium absorption from the food to provide the nutrient to bones. Hence sunlight helps in improving overall bone health which is one of the important physical health benefits of sunlight.

5. Balanced blood pressure

When you get sunlight exposure, your body produces nitric oxide, a compound essential for heart health and better blood circulation. Healthy blood pressure levels are maintained due to this compound reducing the risk of heart diseases and hypertension.

6. Underlying cold symptoms

Cold symptoms such as headaches, body pain, muscle ache, bone aches, stiffness in muscles, chest muscle ache are some underlying cold symptoms that causes discomfort and irritation. Exposing your body to sunlight for few minutes can give you instant relief from muscle stiffness, muscle pain and body aches.

7. Improved sleep

Spending some time in sunlight, lets your body produce enough melatonin, a hormone that us naturally produced by body for regulating sleep cycles generated in low lighting conditions. This hormone helps fall you asleep fast giving you deep and quality sleep.

MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF SUNLIGHT

1. Improves mood by reducing stress

Instant improve in mood after sunlight exposure is called sun disposition. It helps in uplifting your mood by making you feel energetic and relaxed. Melatonin production due to sunlight exposure induces quality sleep that also helps in beating stress and anxiety effectively is the most important mental health benefit of sunlight.

2. Keeps depression away

Sunlight helps in improving mood is proven by science. The exposure to sunlight induces the production of serotonin chemicals that enhances mood and keeps you calm and focused. Good quality sleep due to induced melatonin production helps in alleviating sleep deprivation by keeping depression at bay.

3. Alleviates Schizophrenia

Deficiency of vitamin D increases risk of schizophrenia in old age. According to researches, the serotonin and melatonin regulation mechanism is involved in the link between sunlight and light therapy on mood. People staying mostly indoors are most likely to develop risk of schizophrenia due to deficiency of vitamin D and lack of sunlight according to Genomewide Association Studies.

4. Fights seasonal active disorder

Sunlight exposure increases production of serotonin hormone, a chemical that enhances mood and keeps mind calm and relaxed, that helps in preventing seasonal active disorder (SAD). Serotonin increased levels also fights depression and stress levels. SAD is a mood disorder associated with depression occurs at the same time every year when there is less sunlight.

5. Improves cognitive skills

Another mental health benefit of sunlight is cognitive functions that are significantly affected by exposure to sunlight according to the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. As per the studies and test results by the above association, lower levels of sunlight develop impaired cognitive function. In fact, enough sunlight exposure manifested improved status of Alzheimer diseases and Parkinson’s disease.