Keep Sunlight Coming All Through the Year
By Tom Herrin
Just because it gets light a little later -- and dark a little earlier -- does not mean it is time for us to take a vacation from the sun. It is one of those things that we need all year long. We are designed to have it in our lives and risk sacrificing our health when we go without it. Even though many of us see the times of less sunlight as an opportunity to catch up on all of the indoor things we may believe we are missing, it is not the case. If we want to enjoy good health, we will do well to include as much sunlight as possible each and every day.
The Sun Can Provide a Good Schedule
For years, people set their internal clocks by the sun. They got up when it rose and began to wind down when it set. It created a consistent schedule that seemed to help us sleep at the right time and be active when we should. Sunlight seems to be able to turn off our production of melatonin which helps us sleep. When the light strikes us, it tends to kick our brain in a different gear and increases our metabolism. This helps us have a higher level of energy. The same happens anytime we get that blast of sunlight.
The Sun Can Help Protect Us
Anything that boosts our immunity to disease should be a consideration. When we get sunlight, we also get Vitamin D. This vitamin can help to strengthen bones and keep inflammation away. It is also believed to be useful in preventing some cancers such as those of the lungs, breast, and prostate along with a few others. Sunlight seems to stimulate T cells which help identify and fight several other illnesses.
Getting More Sun Is Easy
There are plenty of things that are challenging to get enough of. Sunlight is not one of them. It may be the easiest thing to get as it is right outside. All we need to do is open our windows or walk outside the door. A few good minutes of sunlight may be just the right formula for improving our health throughout the year and not just in the summer. It also has no cost. For many of us, that is always a phrase we enjoy hearing.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Irving, Tex.