Growing up, I avoided the sun mainly because it made me sweat and I would always feel sticky and uncomfortable. While I preferred hot weather, I only wanted it if it was warm with temperatures that wouldn’t make it uncomfortable to stay outside for long periods.
I have now found myself craving all those days I rejected the sun. I regret all those moments I refused to sweat and not truly acknowledge the gift that is the sun and all of its benefits. I have found myself experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD). According to the NHS, the symptoms when experiencing SAD are inclusive of a loss of pleasure or interest in normal day activities, a persistent low mood and feeling lethargic.
While the exact cause of SAD isn’t fully understood, it is said to be linked to a reduction in sunlight exposure. A lack of sunlight can potentially stop the part of the brain called the hypothalamus from working properly, which may affect melatonin levels. Melatonin plays an integral role in helping one to feel sleepy. Thus, people who suffer from SAD may produce higher than average levels. In addition to this, serotonin levels can also slump as these hormones affect mood and sleep.
While I always knew that the sun was a source of Vitamin D, I tended to take it for granted. This was probably because it wasn’t in a sort of tangible supplement form. Last week, I managed to escape the winter for a few days. The sun felt like a blessing on my skin. It felt like it was covered in something extraordinary.
I took advantage of my jet lag and got up early every day. It was one of those times when I truly realised the importance of embracing something before it was gone.
While the sun and all its magnificent glory can sometimes cause skin damage, I believe the benefits outweighs the cons. According to a group of researchers at the University of Edinburgh, a compound called nitric oxide that helps lower blood pressure is released into the blood vessels as soon as sunlight touches the skin. In addition, a study, conducted by neuroscientist David Llewellyn of the University of Cambridge, who assessed vitamin D levels in more than 1,700 men and women from England aged 65 or older, found that the lower the subjects’ vitamin D levels were the lower their cognitive function.
Feeling good and being healthy are not only relative to what you eat and drink but also how you nurture your body in nature’s natural environmental medicine. I suppose it is one of those things that you don’t realise you have until it’s gone.
Wishing you a Happy New Year and a magical start to 2020. Please make the most of it and of the sun.
