Modern lifestyles have limited our exposure to sunlight. Most
of us spend the greater part of the day indoors, sitting at a desk and looking
at a computer monitor. The ill effects of this are well documented and magazines
and the internet are full of advice on how to exercise and eat properly to stay
fit. However, there is not so much information available about what happens
when we are stuck indoors with little exposure to sunlight. Perhaps it’s because
of the fear of skin cancer and other conditions related to excessive exposure
to sunlight. But inadequate exposure too has its dangers. Here are some things
you need to know about the benefits of getting enough sunlight.
Lower Blood Pressure
Research done at the University of Edinburgh has found that
when sunlight touches the skin, a compound called Nitric Oxide is released into
the system. This compound helps the metabolism to lower blood pressure and by
doing this reduces the risk of suffering from strokes and heart attacks.
Improved Bone Health
The strength of your bones is related to the body’s ability
to absorb and make use of calcium, which is a prime factor in bone strength.
When sunlight cones into contact with the skin, vitamin D3 is produced which controls
the waycalcium and other chemicals are absorbed. The more vitamin D3 you have
in your system, the better your bone health and the lower your chances of
suffering factures. As you age your bones become more fragile which means that
exposure to adequate amounts of sunlight is even more important for older
adults.
Improved Brain
Function
New research is showing that Vitamin D has many other
benefits besides promoting healthy bones. A study of 1,700 adults of the age of
65 and over found that cognitive function was directly related to the amounts
of vitamin D in the body. The lower the level, the more the mental abilities
were reduced. Additional studies have found that sunlight exposure may help the
growth of nerve cells in the hippocampus part of the brain which is where
memory is stored and organized.
Eases Feeling Of
Depression
Humans almost universally equate brightness with cheerfulness
and darkness with gloom. When a long period of cold dark weather causes
prolonged feeling of mild depression (typically in winter), it is known as
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This mild depression is also common among
those who spend long hours working indoors with little or no exposure to the
sun. The reason for this is that
moderate exposure to sunlight increases the body’s ability to produce natural
antidepressant chemicals like Serotonin, which are mood elevators.
Improved Sleep
Quality
The natural instinct to be active in daylight and sleep at
night is called the Circadian Rhythm. The body produces a chemical called Melatonin
that causes drowsiness. When the eyes are exposed to sunlight, the production
of Melatonin is shut down and it resumes when the eyes send a signal that the
body is no longer in bright conditions. If too much melatonin is produced
during the day because of inadequate sunlight exposure, not enough is produced
at night, resulting in poor sleep quality.
In the next part of this blog
we will look at more conditions and how the use of daylightingsystems can help to remedy the problem.
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