Have you been wondering how to improve your mood and sleep like a baby again? Getting the right amount of sunshine can have lots of mood-lifting benefits. We investigated why and found out that this is because the hormones in our brains are triggered by exposure to sunlight.
When exposed to sunlight, our brains release a hormone called serotonin, which is associated with boosting our mood and helping us to feel calm and focused. Our serotonin levels can dip without enough exposure to the sun. Low levels of serotonin are linked to depression, including that triggered by the seasonal changes, known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
If we’ve had enough sunshine in the day, we will also benefit from a better quality of sleep at night as the sun also helps our body to produce melatonin, the chemical in our brains that makes us fall asleep.
In addition to boosting our mood, we discovered that the sun is also the best natural source of Vitamin D, which is linked to important functions in our bodies. It promotes calcium absorption and helps us to build strong bones. Vitamin D has other roles in the body, including reducing inflammation as well as cell growth, neuromuscular, and immune functions.
Furthermore, when sunlight hits our skin, our bodies release nitric oxide into our blood which reduces blood pressure and improves heart health. Additionally, a moderate amount of sunlight has preventive benefits when it comes to certain types of cancer. However, do be aware that excess exposure to sunlight can contribute to skin cancer, so remember to enjoy sunshine in moderation.
What’s more, we read up on reports by the World Health Organization (WHO) for you, and we would like to further share with you that exposure to sunlight might also help to treat several conditions like eczema and jaundice. There are also research studies being conducted on sunlight being a potential form of treatment for other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
When our skin is exposed to sunlight, it produces a specific form of Vitamin D. This is called Vitamin D3 – it increases and maintains serum levels of Vitamin D better than Vitamin D2. Lower your risk of Vitamin D insufficiency with Vitamin D3. If you’re struggling with little sleep or poor quality sleep, you’ll need to increase your levels of melatonin.
