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When the sun is out, we are all a bit happier.
But what is it about the sunshine that makes us feel so jovial There’s science behind why those rays put us in such a good mood
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/why-sun-makes-us-feel-happy-good-mood-science/
It boosts our moodThere is a link between sunlight and our serotonin levels – the hormone that makes us feel happy.
Increased levels of serotonin generally lead to:
Greater feelings of satisfaction and calmness
Lower levels of depression and anxiety
Do you feel happier when the sun comes out?
Sun improves our sleepRegular exposure to sunlight encourages melatonin production – the hormone which helps to regulate sleep-wake cycles.
Increased levels of melatonin can:
Help to regulate our circadian rhythms
Lead to better sleep making us less cranky
Our sex drive is given a liftSpending just one hour in the sun can boost a man’s testosterone levels by 69%
Increased testosterone levels in turn:
Balance mood
Sex drive
Cognitive function https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/why-sun-makes-us-feel-happy-good-mood-science/
Your bones will be given a boostVitamin D is crucial for helping our body to absorb calcium, which is responsible for strengthening your bones.
A lack of vitamin D has been associated with:
Osteoporosis Rickets Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis
Improves midlife brain healthResearch around sunlight and the brain has shown serotonin levels and vitamin D to be good for our intellect.
Higher levels of vitamin D are linked with improved mental ability in middle-aged and older men
Your eyes need sunlight
Regular exposure to sunlight lowered the risk of nearsightedness in children and young adults by helping the eye produce dopamine, which aids in healthy eye development.
Exposure to natural light can also help to reduce adult eyestrain
It can lower blood pressureNitric oxide, stored in the top layers of skin, reacts to sunlight causing blood vessels to widen – moving the oxide into the bloodstream.
Lower blood pressure:
Reduces risk of cardiac arrestReduces risk of a stroke https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/why-sun-makes-us-feel-happy-good-mood-science/
Which of the benefits on sun exposure have you noticed?
After a bleak winter spent predominantly indoors, time in the sunshine is just what the doctor orderedand with all the reasons it's so good for us, why wouldn't you? https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/why-sun-makes-us-feel-happy-good-mood-science/
