6 Health benefits of sunshine – Let's get more sunlight

For the past 25 years, the health and beauty media has seemed to emphasize the negative side of sunning including increasing the aging process and cancer risks—but the truth is that the sun also has remarkable benefits! Here are six top ones for your mood, looks and your health!

1.The sun keeps your bones healthy

Being out in the sun makes your body create Vitamin D which helps absorb calcium—this is absolutely necessary for bone health! Health experts agree that the sunlight is the very best source of Vitamin D. Not having enough Vitamin D can cause dementia, heart problems and even prostate cancer.

2.The sun helps the brain release

The hormone known as serotonin, which boosts mood and may even help you calm your nerves. If you do not get enough sun, you might actually feel yourself getting depressed. It comes as no surprise that many psychologists suggest to their depressed patients (as well as women with PMS) to take a brisk walk in sunny weather (for at least a half hour) to help raise their mood. Anxiety attacks have also been connected to not getting enough sunlight.

3.The sun can help lower your blood pressure

While there is no cure for high blood pressure, being in the sun or being exposed to UV lights induces nitric oxide release, which plays a role in not only regulating blood pressure but in reducing the risk of heart attack and strokes as well.

4.The sun can help your sleep quality

The sun helps your body produce more melatonin, which naturally helps you sleep and when sunlight hits your retinas, the production of serotonin begins. It’s low serotonin that gives people SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder. The sun is necessary to reset are circadian rhythm, also known in everyday language as the “body clock” or “sleep/wake cycle” which regulates feelings of being both awake and sleepy in a 24 hour period.

5.The sun helps treat many skin diseases

Naturally including psoriasis and eczema because of the fact that it increases the production of Vitamin D. For decades, dermatologists have recommended that patients with acne take in 15 minutes of unprotected sunlight each day on their face to dry up breakouts. The verdict is still out on this—many skin experts swear that this works but some dermatologists claim that troubled skin only looks better after sun exposure because it might be getting tanned (and thus more even-looking).

6.The sun gives you a golden glow

You might have heard a lot of things about the possibility of skin cancer and getting wrinkled due to UVA rays, but there are benefits to MODERATE sun exposure. Periods of exposure 45 minutes or less whiles a sunscreen of 15 to 50 SPF (depending on your skin tone) are safe for most people and will give skin a sun-kissed glow. Those deep tans of yesteryear are thankfully no longer in vogue because most people would have to stay outside too long to get them. If you want some “color,” never, ever sit out for an extended amount of time even if you are on a beach vacation—do it gradually with a little time in the sun each day. To show off a sun-kissed skin tone, try a flowered print or bright solid summer separates. Check out the citrus colored Apiece Apart Sanna Ruffle Cropped Camisole, which would be great teamed with white or ivory summer skirt like Tibi’s Annelie Linen Paperbag Skirt.