Never Go a Day Without Sunshine
By Tom Herrin
Quite often, when we think of bright sunshine we think in terms of warmer weather. Temperatures that are pleasant tend to inspire many of us to go outdoors and be active. On the other side of that coin, we may see the shorter days as times to stay indoors, pull the shades, and cover up. A lot of television or reading may dominate our thoughts. What may be better for our overall health is to strive to achieve a balance of all of this. As the days are shorter, we can easily become deficient in many of the things we gain from sunlight. Opening the blinds, or spending a little time outdoors, may be part of a simple plan to have better health.
Beef up T Cells
While too much sun can certainly be harmful in many ways, too little can deprive us of necessary essentials. A Georgetown University study found that sun exposure without sunscreen helps with the movement of T cells. They play an important role in fighting disease. In addition to this, the sun is an important player in Vitamin D. This vitamin helps our bodies to use some other minerals as well as have a big part in fighting several types of cancers such as colon, breast, lung, and prostate.
Regular Sun Exposure May Lengthen Life
Most of the time, people are interested in anything that may prolong quality life. One study, done among women, found that those who had less sun exposure over a 20 year period had much higher mortality rates than those who had a lot more exposure. Obviously people need to exercise discretion, but this speaks loudly. People need sunlight to live and reach their highest potential. Achieving that right balance is critical.
Have a Good Mix
Too much of anything can be bad. We simply need to remember that sunlight is just as important when days are short as when they are long. I try my best to open up my house as much as possible. If at all possible, I try to get outdoors. It always makes me feel better, almost instantly. The last thing we need to do is bury ourselves inside away from the sun and hibernate. With a little planning, we can easily accomplish this no-cost method of boosting health.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Lone Tree, Colo.