Enjoy Fun in the Sun (while protecting your skin and the planet)
The Wellness Benefits of Sunlight
Less stress, better sleep, higher immunity…what’s not to love? Learn more about the many benefits that sunlight has to offer. Just be sure to take care and protect yourself with the tips provided.
Boost Mood and Reduces Stress
Sunlight and darkness each trigger the release of hormones in the brain.
Sunlight triggers serotonin, and darkness triggers melatonin.
The hormone serotonin is associated with improved mood and helps one feel focused and calm.
The effects of serotonin are triggered by sunlight that enters your body through the eye.
Without enough exposure to the sun, your serotonin levels can dip. Lower levels of serotonin can pose a higher risk of depression and anxiety.
Improve Sleep
The light/dark cycle of the sun has a powerful effect on the circadian clock, sleep, and alertness. And if you lack sunlight, sleep problems may occur.
Your body’s circadian clock responds to light as a signal to be awake and dark as a signal to fall asleep.
Increase your amount of light during the day to be more alert.
Darken your bedroom room at night to sleep better.
Regulate Your Immune System
A healthy immune system can help reduce the risk of illness, infections, some cancers, and mortality after surgery.
Sunlight exposure is essential to ensuring proper levels of circulating Vitamin D since being exposed to sunlight also enables your body to make vitamin D from cholesterol in your skin cells.
Vitamin D has the ability to regulate your immune system.
Vitamin D also strengthens bones.
Vitamin D is an essential component of your bones because, without vitamin D, your body can’t absorb calcium, which is essential for good health.
Sunlight also promotes collagen production in your connective tissue, which helps you move quickly.
Only 30 minutes of sunlight is enough to make your bones stronger, healthier, and infection-free.
Reduce High Blood Pressure
Research shows that sunlight alters levels of the small messenger molecule nitric oxide (NO) in the skin and blood.
When exposed to sunlight, small amounts of NO are transferred from the skin to the circulation, lowering blood vessel tone; as blood pressure drops, so does the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Kill Bacteria
Have you ever wondered why you get colds or the flu during colder seasons but not during warmer ones? It’s because sunlight, or specifically the UV rays in sunlight, can kill viruses and bacteria. It’s one of nature’s cleaning agents.
In one particular study, 12% of bacteria survived in darkrooms, but only 6% of dust bacteria survived after they were exposed to sunlight.
Protect Yourself from Too Much Sun Exposure
While sunshine is essential for good health for all the reasons above, it’s crucial to ensure you don’t get too much of a good thing! Check out these tips on how to enjoy your time in the sun worry-free.
A Few Basic Ideas…
Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun when possible.
Wear clothing with a tight weave or high-SPF clothing.
Wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses with UV protection and side panels.
Take breaks in shaded areas.
Plus, a Sunscreen Primer
Wear sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 15.
SPF only refers to UVB protection. To protect against UVA, look for products containing: Mexoryl, Parsol 1789, zinc oxide, or avobenzone.
Sunscreen performance is affected by wind, humidity, perspiration, and proper application.
Throw away sunscreens after 1–2 years (they lose potency).
Apply liberally (minimum of 1 oz) at least 20 minutes before sun exposure.
Apply to ears, scalp, lips, neck, tops of your feet, and backs of your hands.
Reapply at least every 2 hours and each time you get out of the water or perspire heavily.
Some sunscreens lose their effectiveness when applied with insect repellents. You may need to reapply more often.
If you are swimming in the ocean, lakes, or reviews, be sure to look for a sunscreen that’s safe for reefs and aquatic life.
Avoid sunscreens containing petrolatum (commonly known as mineral oil), which takes years to biodegrade and is known to be harmful or fatal to aquatic life and waterfowl.
Avoid sunscreens with high content of titanium dioxide. This mineral does not biodegrade and is found to react in warm seawater to form hydrogen peroxide, which is harmful to all sea life.
Oxybenzone and octinoxate, two chemicals recently banned in Hawaii, are believed to cause coral bleaching.
Let’s Make This Easy…
Here’s a list of eco-friendly sunscreens that keep you and the planet protected:
