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.
- Sunshine is a natural anti depressant, everyone ( well almost everyone) seems to be in a happier mood when the sun’s out
- Sunshine makes you sweat, which helps detox the body, and regulate your heart rate
- 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
- Exposure to sunlight can help you sleep better
- Skin gets more tanned and hair gets lighter/highlights, no chemicals necessary
- 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
- A lack of vitamin D has been said to be strongly linked to a range of diseases, including breast and other cancers
- Sunlight can reduce symptoms (and perhaps arguably contribute to the prevention) of Alzheimer’s disease
- Exposure to the sun can also lower blood pressure and bring relief to arthritic pain
- 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.
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Renegade Expressions
I love the sun and the beach. 🙂