Soak Up a Little Sunshine

Sunshine can be good for you. It kills germs, helps improve you mood., and allows the body to produce vitamin D. Yet while some exposure is good, too much can destroy the skin's elasticity and increase the risk of skin cancer. Enjoy sunlight and outside activities, but protect yourself from overexposure.


Friend or Foe?
Over the past few years, articles about the effects of the sun and the danger of skin cancer have driven many people into the dark. That's not all bad. Certainly you should use caution to avoid burning, but to avoid the sun altogether deprives you of one nature's great healing remedies. It's good to spend at least few minutes in the sunshine every day. Studies have shown that, for some people, lack of exposure to light causes depression. Taking a sunshine break will give your body a dose of vitamin D, and will act as disinfectant, killing bacteria on your clothes and skin.


Some Guidelines for safe, healthy exposure to sunlight

• If you have an outdoor trip or vacation coming up, prepare your skin by giving it progressive exposure in the days beforehand, to the point of pinking up.
• A few minutes of sunshine on your face and hands each day will produce all the vitamin D you need.
• Open up your house to the sunshine each morning. It will improve your health and lift your spirits. 
• Artificial light is a very poor substitute for the real thing. Spend a little time each day soaking up some daylight. 
• Avoid going to sleep in the sun. It's a recipe for a severe sunburn.
• Use sunscreen and sunglasses to protect yourself. A hat is also helpful to shade your face when you are working outdoors. 
• Be extra careful when you are around water. The reflection from this surface can increase your exposure causing you to burn rapidly.
• If you are swimming, remember to reapply your sunscreen when you are done. Better yet, use waterproof sunscreen. 

Trivia!

• An extra hour of light a day may affect your energy, sleep, fertility, and even PMS.
• Seasonal variations in light levels can have a profound effect on mental health. This is clearest in people suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) -- a depressive illness that is successfully treated with light therapy.
• People getting more sunshine are less likely to get breast, colon, or prostate cancer.
• Sunlight is an effective germ killer. That's why it is important to sun and air out blankets, pillows, and other items that are not washed regularly and sterilized in an automatic dryer.
• Proper amounts of sunshine can give your skin a healthy glow and make it smooth and pliable.
• Sunlight helps to enhance the immune system, alleviate pain from swollen arthritic joints, and lower blood cholesterol levels.