Sunshine: Getting the Light Balance Right

Summer is coming and so is the Sun, hopefully! And along with it, comes greater opportunities to improve our physical and mental health & well-being. In this week’s blog, we look at how Sun exposure is vital and can influence and affect our physical and mental health.

Whether you love the sunshine and summer heat, or not, it is an inescapable fact that summer awakens motivation, breeds inspiration, and provides the means to immerse ourselves in the wonderful natural world around us, be more physically active and boost our overall health and wellbeing. To quote Bob Marley…

“Sun is shining, the weather is sweet, yeah, make you wanna move your dancing feet”.

The Sun is the “giver of life”. This concept has ancient roots, deeply embedded in various cultures and mythologies around the world.

In ancient Egypt, the Sun god Ra was worshipped as the creator of life and the ruler of all creation. In Greek mythology, Helios was the personification of the Sun, revered for his life-giving properties. In ancient Hinduism, the Sun god Surya was considered the source of all life and energy.

While specific references to the Sun as the “giver of life” in these ancient texts might vary, the underlying reverence for the Sun’s essential role in nurturing and sustaining life has been a common thread across many early civilisations.

In the modern world, scientific understanding has confirmed and profoundly deepened our appreciation of the Sun’s role as the “giver of life” and its effects on human health.

So here are a few physical and mental health benefits of getting into the Sun “the giver of life” this summer, and some things for you to muse and consider on how to use the Sun wisely.

VITAMIN D

For humans, the Sun is crucial for the synthesis of Vitamin D. When Ultraviolet B rays from the Sun hit the skin, they trigger a complex series of biochemical reactions that results in the production of this vital nutrient.

Vitamin D has vital roles in many bodily functions including immune function and disease fighting, regulating inflammation, and regulating mood and mental health. So, I’m sure you can agree, pretty important in our overall well-being right? It also plays a significant role in calcium absorption, promoting healthy bone growth and maintenance. Without adequate sunlight, individuals may become deficient in Vitamin D, leading to issues such as weakened bones, osteoporosis, and an increased risk of fractures.

Fun times and Happy Hormones.

Sunlight plays a crucial role in the production of serotonin. Often called the “happy hormone.” It regulates mood, well-being, and happiness, significantly influencing mental health and emotional stability. Levels of serotonin can be activated when sunlight stimulates the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. So get out into the Sun and get happy (but do not stare straight at the Sun…..do I really need to tell you that?)

Summer also means longer days and milder nights, to enjoy more social time with others and our loved ones. In today’s increasingly digital world, maintaining face-to-face interactions remains crucial. While technology facilitates communication, it cannot fully replicate the benefits of in-person connections, which are fundamental to mental and emotional well-being.

Hitting the Rhythms.

The Sun influences circadian rhythms, the internal biological clocks that govern sleep-wake cycles and other physiological processes. Exposure to natural light helps regulate these rhythms, promoting healthy sleep patterns and overall health. The absence of natural light can disrupt these cycles, leading to sleep disorders and other health issues.

We’re not all made the same.

Genetics play a significant role in determining how well an individual can deal with sunlight. Several genetic factors influence skin pigmentation, UV sensitivity, and ability and rate at which Vitamin D is synthesised, which collectively affect a person’s ability to tolerate and benefit from sun exposure.

So, be sensible. We are all beautifully unique and respond differently to the Sun due to our unique and specific genetics and ancestry. For example, my partner has Spanish heritage, so she can endure the Sun way better than I do, with my Irish, Scottish and Viking ancestry, which means I often look like an angry cherry tomato, or red snooker ball if I get too much Sun on my poor bald head.

Be Safe.

We’ve already said, “don’t stare at the Sun”. However, there are other sensible measures in how to sensibly expose yourself to the sun over summer.

Firstly. Don’t go out in the midday sun when it is at its strongest if you can avoid it.

Sunscreen has its place, however. Walking around all day in the sun covered in sunscreen does not mean you are completely protected. Also consider what chemicals (that humans have never been exposed to before) that are contained in some of the Sun protection products. Yes, they have a time and place, but what might you also be absorbing into your body through your skin causing damage in different ways?  Adopting some of the other elements of the Australian mantra of: Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide can be smart habits to get into.

1. SLIP on any clothing that covers the skin as much as possible that can provide UV protection.
2. SLOP on some sunscreen. At times where you cannot avoid sun for prolonged periods, but don’t just rely on it and its chemical protection.
3. SLAP on a hat that shades your face, nose, neck, and ears.
4. SEEK Shade, it can significantly reduce UV exposure.
5. SLIDE on some sunglasses. Balance out getting sunlight on your retinas to stimulate happy hormone production, but not too much that you damage your eyes.

Finally, please drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated. Increase your water intake as the temperature rises. Dehydration and its negative health effects can be insidious, creeping up on us as the day progresses.

Overall, be sensible, be active, be part of nature and spend time in the nurturing light and warmth of “the giver of life”. 

With Love

James