Much has been made in recent years of the damage which over exposure to sunlight can cause to the human body. The sun has been held responsible, with good reason, for conditions such as skin cancer, and too much sun can also cause the skin to age more quickly than it should. There is a balance to be struck though, and the sun can also do the human body a tremendous amount of good.
A key benefit of spending time in the sun is that it allows the body to produce the Vitamin D that it requires naturally. Conditions such as rickets are caused by having too little of this vitamin. Some cancers, as well as respiratory conditions like asthma, have also been linked to having too little Vitamin D in the body.
The light from the sun is especially important for the body's natural production of Vitamin D3. The natural cholesterol in skin works with the sun's UVB rays to help out liver and kidneys produce this vitamin. Unless the skin is exposed to direct sunlight, this process will be severely impaired, with many possibly negative consequences.
This means that it is actually good for you to expose skin to sunlight for at least 20 to 30 minutes, on three or four occasions each week. Sunlight through windows will not have the same positive effects, as the glass in windows blocks UCB rays while letting in UVA rays, which are potentially damaging. Sun screens often work to block UVB rays, which can work to produce Vitamin D.
It is also impossible to get too much Vitamin D, as the body has a natural defence mechanism, which will start to work when enough of the vitamin is present for the body's needs. For the full positive effect of the sun's rays, do not wash the skin with soap immediately after coming in from being out in the sun. The soap will destroy the natural oils which are necessary for the production of Vitamin D.
There are other potential benefits to the skin being exposed to direct sunlight too, with recent research from Edinburgh University suggesting that exposure to sun may well help with circulatory conditions. Sunlight might help with illnesses caused by high blood pressure, as well as heart attack and stroke. This might well be so effective, the researchers claim, as to outweigh risks of skin cancers.
The active ingredient in the process of helping with conditions to do with the blood circulation systems of the body is the compound Nitric Oxide. This looks like it acts to lower blood pressure, though the authors of the study admit more research is necessary before it can be established beyond doubt. BBC statistics indicate that illnesses such as heart attacks and strokes usually kill 80 times more people than skin cancer on an annual basis.
Exposure to light from the sun can therefore be seen to be good for you in a number of ways. It can keep your heart healthy, as well as ensure you have sufficient Vitamin D. If you are concerned about any specific health issue relating to the sun, consult a medical professional.
A key benefit of spending time in the sun is that it allows the body to produce the Vitamin D that it requires naturally. Conditions such as rickets are caused by having too little of this vitamin. Some cancers, as well as respiratory conditions like asthma, have also been linked to having too little Vitamin D in the body.
The light from the sun is especially important for the body's natural production of Vitamin D3. The natural cholesterol in skin works with the sun's UVB rays to help out liver and kidneys produce this vitamin. Unless the skin is exposed to direct sunlight, this process will be severely impaired, with many possibly negative consequences.
This means that it is actually good for you to expose skin to sunlight for at least 20 to 30 minutes, on three or four occasions each week. Sunlight through windows will not have the same positive effects, as the glass in windows blocks UCB rays while letting in UVA rays, which are potentially damaging. Sun screens often work to block UVB rays, which can work to produce Vitamin D.
It is also impossible to get too much Vitamin D, as the body has a natural defence mechanism, which will start to work when enough of the vitamin is present for the body's needs. For the full positive effect of the sun's rays, do not wash the skin with soap immediately after coming in from being out in the sun. The soap will destroy the natural oils which are necessary for the production of Vitamin D.
There are other potential benefits to the skin being exposed to direct sunlight too, with recent research from Edinburgh University suggesting that exposure to sun may well help with circulatory conditions. Sunlight might help with illnesses caused by high blood pressure, as well as heart attack and stroke. This might well be so effective, the researchers claim, as to outweigh risks of skin cancers.
The active ingredient in the process of helping with conditions to do with the blood circulation systems of the body is the compound Nitric Oxide. This looks like it acts to lower blood pressure, though the authors of the study admit more research is necessary before it can be established beyond doubt. BBC statistics indicate that illnesses such as heart attacks and strokes usually kill 80 times more people than skin cancer on an annual basis.
Exposure to light from the sun can therefore be seen to be good for you in a number of ways. It can keep your heart healthy, as well as ensure you have sufficient Vitamin D. If you are concerned about any specific health issue relating to the sun, consult a medical professional.
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