Now that the sun is out and the weather is warmer, more and more of us are taking advantage of it and heading outside. Believe it or not, there are some perks to getting out there and enjoying the nice weather.
The sun is an important source of Vitamin D. Our bodies make Vitamin D when sunlight touches our bare skin.
However, it has been proved that too much exposure to direct sunlight increases the risk of skin cancer, so wearing a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher is important for reducing the risk of skin cancer and preventing premature aging of the skin. Despite the harmful effect of too much sun, it has also been proven that at least 10-15 minutes of sunlight per day, depending on your skin sensitivity, is actually good for you.
But how much is too much?
According to The Center for Science For the Public Interest:
Exposing non-sunscreened hands, face, and arms to the sun for about ten to fifteen minutes (depending on skin sensitivity to sunburning, latitude and time of day) two to three times a week between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. gives the body its Vitamin D requirement.
The lack of Vitamin D may contribute to chronic fatigue and depression.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a mood disorder caused by the lack of light in winter, is a specific type of major depression. It can appear as the onset of major depression in the fall (September through November) and the symptoms abate in late winter to early spring (March through May). Also, the frequency of SAD can vary depending on the amount of sun in relation to the geographic location.
The Benefits of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is critical to the proper formation of the skeletal structure. Its purpose is to maintain blood levels of calcium in the correct, normal range and to tell the body to absorb more calcium from food as needed.
Osteoporosis is strongly associated with low Vitamin D. Maintaining normal storage levels of Vitamin D in your body helps keep bones strong and may help prevent osteoporosis in elderly, non-ambulatory individuals and post-menopausal women.