From what I’ve read, there’s a lot to be said for chasing the sun.

The health benefits of sunshine aren’t really highlighted much in the mainstream – it’s all the stuff you have to spend money on that gets pushed.

One of natures most powerful medicines is sunshine – and an expensive medicine for those of us who don’t get much of it throughout the year and end up having to jet off somewhere tropical for a top up.

Let’s just remind ourselves of some of the health and beauty benefits of being a sun seeker.

1. Sunshine is a natural anti depressant, everyone ( well almost everyone) seems to be in a happier mood when the sun’s out
2. Sunshine makes you sweat, which helps detox the body, and regulate your heart rate
3. Vitamin D (everyone knows this), is great for bones by helping the body absorb calcium, reduces risk of heart attack, type 2 diabetes, and acne amongst other things
4. Exposure to sunlight can help you sleep better
5. Skin gets more tanned and hair gets lighter/highlights, no chemicals necessary
6. Hot weather makes you slow down and take it easy, so I guess that makes the sun a ‘de-stresser’ and is argued to affect the body in a way that increases antibodies  – the body’s natural defence against bacteria
7. A lack of vitamin D has been said to be strongly linked to a range of  diseases, including breast and other cancers
8. Sunlight can reduce symptoms (and perhaps arguably contribute to the prevention) of  Alzheimer’s disease
9. Exposure to the sun can also lower blood pressure and bring relief to arthritic pain
10. The sun is also said to aid the breakdown of cholesterol in our arteries

This is just a snapshot of the documented health benefits of sunshine.

So for those of us who are not fortunate enough to have 365 days of warm sunshine – a well earned flight is probably due!

Photo taken in Barbados – Dover Beach, during a vitamin D top up session.