Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
The Eastern Echo Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024 | Print Archive
The Eastern Echo

Screenshot 2022-06-14 144632.png

Advice: Get a dose of vitamin D before it's too late

Being exposed to sunlight often can have many benefits on one's health.

As the weather has gotten warmer and the sun has been sending out its intense light, people are staying home more. This is because they don't like the hot weather. The truth is, they have no idea how critical sunlight is to keep healthy.

Despite this, it is worth noting that enough sunlight may have many beneficial effects on the human body, starting with improving the sleep schedule. Your body creates a hormone called melatonin that is critical to helping you sleep. Since your body starts producing it when it gets dark, you usually begin to feel sleepy two hours after the sun sets. This is one of the reasons our bodies naturally stay up later in the summer. According to research published by the National Library of Medicine, getting an hour of light in the morning can help you sleep better. The sunlight tells your body when to increase and decrease your levels of melatonin, which regulates your circadian rhythm.

Additionally, melatonin is known to lower stress reactivity, which is why being outside could significantly decrease your stress levels. Vitamin D also assists in maintaining strong bones since it keeps the body's calcium levels high. A little sunshine is good for your bones, so soaking up the sunshine might be the prescription for brittle, thin, and misshapen bones.

Additionally, vitamin D is critical for your immune system, and with consistent exposure to sunlight, it can be strengthened. By maintaining a healthy immune system, you will be less likely to contract an illness or infections, develop cancers, and die in case of surgery.

Meanwhile, lack of sun exposure over the long term can have detrimental effects on your body, so ensuring you get enough vitamin D is essential. Even if it is taken as a supplement, says Dr. Clare Morrison, medical advisor for MedExpress.

In conclusion, too much sun is dangerous. Any person who spends time outside for long periods without wearing sunscreen or covering up is at risk of skin cancer. There are, however, some compelling reasons to soak up some rays.