The sun provides our planet with the energy that ensures survival on the earth. Being called an ordinary star, the sun is not so ordinary when it influences weather, ocean currents, seasons, and climate. It allows plants to grow through photosynthesis and gives human beings a reason to wake up every day.
The sun is a big deal. In fact, it’s the most important thing in our solar system. So we bring you 15 reasons why sun is important to us and the world.
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15 Benefits Of Sun To Highlight Its Significance
The Earth would be a lifeless ball of ice without the sun’s heat and light. Whether it is to heat our seas, stir our air, create our weather patterns, or supply energy to the growing green plants, the sun is a crucial aspect that sustains life on earth. Find out many interesting facts about the sun.
1. Sun Can Improve Your Mood
When the brain senses that it is winter and days are short, the pineal gland begins to produce melatonin, the hormone of darkness, which makes us sleepy.
Moderate depression can be prevented or alleviated by frequent sunshine, which may be especially crucial in winter. When sunlight hits our skin cells, serotonin levels go up instead, giving you a positive feeling and energy.
Serotonin is the body’s natural happy hormone. It is a neurotransmitter that helps to improve mood, sleep, and calm anxiety.
When the sun shines, we tend to be happier and more energetic. According to a study, exercising outside produces more endorphins in the body than working out inside.
2. Sun Kills Depression
Sunshine can actually help with depression. The sun has the capability of easing tension and anxiety, no matter how minimal or severe. It can boost happiness and fitness.
Sunbathing is a time-honored cure for the blues. In the 1930s, doctors treated patients with depression and mental illness with what was called heliotherapy or sun treatment. Today, natural sunlight therapy centers exist all over the world to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
3. Sun Is A Source Of Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps regulate the absorption of calcium and phosphorus needed for healthy bones and teeth. It also plays a crucial role in determining blood pressure, heart rate, immune function, mental health, and effects of other hormones on the body.
It is an important component of your well-being. Sunlight triggers vitamin D production in our body. To get enough dose in your system, all you have to do is bask in the sun and enjoy a healthy and happy life!
4. Sun Relieves Pain and Aches
Did you know that sunlight has healing powers? Just 10 minutes in the sun and you might find yourself less inflamed and feeling less pain.
Scientists know that exposure to sunlight reduces inflammation in the body, because of its ability to increase vitamin D production. It is also believed that sunlight can alter certain proteins in our body which lower pain levels, including endorphins.
Related Video – Sun 101 | National Geographic:
5. Sun Minimizes The Risk Of Cancers
One study showed that children who get more than five hours of exposure to the sun per week are 20% less likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life. And even though we’re told to avoid direct sunlight, studies also show that avoiding the sun can increase your chances of getting cancer.
We don’t usually think of it this way, but sunlight does have some downsides. The sun produces ultraviolet (UV) rays, which are believed to be associated with certain types of skin cancers.
While too much exposure to UV rays can damage your skin and increase your chances of developing skin cancer, the sun actually reduces the risk of melanoma.
6. Sun Helps To Fight Infections
UV rays from the sun help to fight infections. UV radiation has been shown to boost your body’s immune response by causing a protein found in the skin cells to rise in production, which helps your body fight infections.
This is why some wound care specialists recommend sunbathing to help heal wounds more quickly.
One study showed that fungi and molds were less likely to grow on skin samples exposed to sunlight or special UV-A light. Another study found that exposure to UVA radiation may help reduce the severity of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections in mice by increasing interferon and nitric oxide production.
7. Sun May Prevent Asthma
Exposure to sunlight may help prevent asthma by strengthening the respiratory system and stimulating pressure in the breathing tubes. Scientists think this occurs because the body produces more carbon monoxide (CO) during sun exposure, which acts as an anti-inflammatory medication.
A study shows that adults who had higher vitamin D levels were less likely to suffer from respiratory infections like asthma, bronchitis, or pneumonia.
Another study showed that children who spent more time outdoors in the sun had lower risks of developing asthma than kids who stayed inside most of the time.
However, keep in mind that too much exposure to the sun may escalate skin issues. Be sure to use sunscreen and don’t spend too much time in the sun.
8. Sun May Treat Acne
Acne isn’t just an aesthetic concern, it’s also a sign of a hormonal imbalance.
Sunlight can help cure acne by regulating your hormones and decreasing the severity of both acne and skin inflammation. People who have a vitamin D deficiency are more likely to develop acne because it limits how much calcium they absorb from food. It means that not enough is available for healthy oil production in the body.
Sunlight helps to treat acne by normalizing your body’s production of sex hormones, similar to taking supplemental oral contraceptives. Studies show that sunlight may help lower the severity and frequency of acne in women who have very mild cases.
9. Sun Increases Energy
As days become shorter, less sunlight hits us. This lack of exposure to sunlight can cause lowered energy levels or SAD, (Seasonal Affective Disorder).
Studies show that sunlight boosts energy levels by increasing the production of dopamine and serotonin, which are the hormones responsible for feelings of well-being. People who have regular exposure to bright light in the morning are less likely to suffer illnesses.
In addition, a study of women who spent more time outside during the summer months reported more positive moods and better sleep than those who stayed inside for most of the day.
10. Sun Improves Concentration Levels
According to studies, people who have regular exposure to bright light in the morning are less likely to suffer illnesses.
Sunlight has a positive effect on concentration levels because it regulates body temperature and blood pressure. These fluctuations can affect your attention span. When you’re exposed to bright light, your blood vessels dilate, which boosts blood flow to the brain.
This benefits you because more oxygen is flowing through your body and brain, giving you the ability to focus better on tasks at hand.
11. Sun Inculcates Better Sleeping Patterns
Sunlight plays a significant role in setting your body’s internal clock, or circadian rhythm. Your body naturally produces the hormone melatonin to help you fall asleep and stay still. It also regulates other hormones that control hunger and thirst, mood, sex drive, energy levels, body temperature, cell renewal rates, and blood pressure.
Studies show that exposure to sunlight in the morning helps shift your circadian rhythm, which can improve sleep patterns and moods.
Sunlight helps to improve sleep patterns by regulating the production of melatonin, serotonin, and dopamine, which are all hormones that help to regulate the sleep-wake cycle in your body.
12. Sun Helps Manage Blood Sugar
Lack of sunlight causes lower levels of insulin in the body. Sunlight helps to manage blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes by increasing the release of insulin, which reduces levels of glucose in the bloodstream.
Sunlight also helps to manage blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes by encouraging healthy levels of vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium from food. Calcium contributes to healthy muscle function and insulin production.
13. Sun Relieves Menopause Symptoms
One of every five women of childbearing age has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which causes irregular menstrual cycles, excessive body hair, and infertility.
As women age, their body produces less estrogen. As a result, women who are in menopause often suffer from depression due to low levels of estrogen.
Studies show that exposure to the sun’s UV rays helps increase the production of estrogen, which can help manage symptoms of menopause.
14. Sun Can Help Fight Night Blindness
Research shows that people who have night blindness are more likely to suffer from depression, sleep problems, and difficulty concentrating on tasks.
Without exposure to sunlight, you cannot produce vitamin D, which helps your eyes adjust to changes in light levels. This can cause blurry vision, difficulty focusing on objects, and increased sensitivity to bright lights.
Exposure to sunlight for 20 minutes each day helps improve the symptoms of night blindness by increasing the production of dopamine and serotonin.
Regular exposure to sunlight also helps your eyes adjust to changes in light levels, which can improve symptoms of night blindness such as blurry vision and difficulty focusing on objects.
15. Sun Helps Fight Skin Diseases
One of the most common skin conditions is called psoriasis, which causes red, scaly patches to form on your skin.
Studies show that UV radiation is one of the most effective treatments for autoimmune diseases caused by an overactive immune system.
Sunlight helps to calm the body’s immune system by increasing blood levels of vitamin D, which reduces inflammation in the skin. It also helps improve symptoms of eczema and psoriasis by decreasing the production of cortisol, which is a hormone that causes skin cells to multiply rapidly.
Importance Of Sun – Conclusion
Sun supports life and brings us natural light and heat for various purposes. The sun has a significant influence on our bodies. It has many health benefits too. We cannot deny its significance. So to make the most out of it, devote your 10 minutes daily to take a stroll or just cheer yourself up in Sun and see your life changing for the better!
References
- https://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/13/health/endorphins-exercise-cause-happiness/index.html
- https://heliotherapy.institute/what-is-heliotherapy/
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120223103920.htm
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180307161357.htm
- https://respiratory-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12931-019-1072-4
- https://www.bbc.com/news/health-48268110
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