Benefits of Sunlight
“Let’s go get some sunshine,” my mom would always say. Growing up, her words often felt vague, but as I got older, I began to realize their significance. Have you ever felt the sun's warmth on your skin in a way that seemed healing? I remember a crisp autumn afternoon in the Blue Ridge Mountains last year. I had ventured out on the parkway to witness the vibrant changing colors of the leaves. When I parked my car and stepped out, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The air was crisp, and the golden warmth of the sun seemed to radiate on my skin. The soft silence of nature surrounding me, and the subtle glow of the golden hour felt more refreshing than any vitamin I have taken. Experiencing vitamin D in its purest form truly highlights nature's unique ability to enhance our well-being. You have not had the exact same experience, but perhaps you have felt the warmth of sunlight or the gradual rise of temperatures with the sunrise. My experience brings me to advocate for why sunlight is beneficial to our lives.
Did you know vitamin D is one of the very few vitamins that is best absorbed from sunlight rather than food? In fact, vitamin D is essential for proper bone function. Sunlight is the most effective way to absorb vitamin D. While sunlight offers many benefits, vitamin D is the most essential as it supports : bone health, regulates blood pressure and immune system, maintains the health of blood vessels and blood sugar, and improves cognitive function.
Aside from vitamin D, sunlight also helps reduce high blood pressure, kill bacteria, improve quality of sleep, and boost mood and immune system functions. We all have access to one of the best things for our bodies for free, so we should take advantage of every chance we get, whether that is hiking in the mountains, walking on the beach, or sitting on your front porch. Everyone needs a bit of sunshine in their life.
From my perspective getting sunlight every day may keep the doctor away. Do not skip out on today, get outside, get some fresh air, grab some 50Cups tea and get that vitamin D!