Benefits of Regular Sunshine – Craig McDonald

I’ve been reading a lot lately about the Sun and its good and bad effects on the human body so with summer just around the corner I thought it timely to put something out there to give both sides of the spectrum.

We all know that over exposure to the Sun is not recommended and can lead to various problems including cancer, however this shouldn’t mean we all stay inside and avoid the sun at all costs. The sun is the provider for all life on Earth and without it everything would die, so it can’t be all bad for us.

With more and more people working indoors and living in air conditioned houses we are seeing less and less of the sun. The sun, of course, is an excellent natural provider of Vitamin D and regular consistent small amounts of exposure to the sun, without getting burnt, can actually have a protective effect on the skin, can improve moods and help with depression.

It is hard enough to get sufficient Vitamin D from the foods we eat or supplements we take so why not get it free from the sun? Another interesting factor about the sun and its links with cancer, is that rates of skin cancer due to excessive sunburn are typically higher in areas of the body that get irregular sun and occasional burning as opposed to areas of your skin that get regular sun exposure such as the back of the neck and the forearms.

There are of course exceptions to the above, but modern trends show that areas of the body that get irregular exposure to the sun, such as the back and chest, are more likely to develop cancer.

So my recommendation would be to try and get around half an hour of sunshine in the morning every day of the week. Try it and see if it has a positive effect on you. It may be a great way to also get some exercise at the same time? Get up half an hour earlier and take the dog for a walk in the morning sunshine or go for a walk or run by yourself or with a friend or partner.

Please remember these thoughts are my opinions only from many different articles and books that I have read and you would be wise to consult your GP should you have any specific questions regarding your own health and well being.Let the sun be your friend, but always avoid overexposure.

It's not a good look either is it?