body: could sunshine & vitamin d be your missing element?
From spending time in the studio late at night, to being tucked away behind a desk in an office all day, for many of us, the glare of our mobile phones and laptop screens are replacing something free, simple and vital. Sunshine. Whilst we often protect ourselves from the sun, research has shown that to stay healthy, balanced and feeling alive, we should try and spend at least fifteen to twenty minutes outside every day.
A study of a thousand office workers in the UK, found that only 40% of people spent fifteen minutes outside each day, excluding their commute to work. An additional 22% spend a maximum of thirty minutes outside. This stat is way less than prisoners, who are required to have ‘at least one hour of suitable exercise in the open air daily’, according to UN guidelines. On average, the workers they surveyed spent more time per a day at their desk or workstation (6.8 hours) than they did in bed (6.4 hours), relaxing at home (3.5 hours) or outdoors (37 mins).
This sounds extreme but if we step back and monitor our own lives day to day, so many of us are doing the same. There is nothing more liberating when you decide to put your phone down, step away from whatever you have been concentration on for hours and step out in to fresh air. It seems so simple but it can help us in so many ways.
Pic: Jack Goodman
Here’s why sunshine and Vitamin D could be your missing element:
It lifts your mood by boosting serotonin levels in your body (the happiness hormone) whilst making you calm and alert. Sunlight cues special areas in the retina of your eye, which triggers the release of serotonin.
Sunlight has been known to help with depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Without enough sun exposure, your serotonin levels can dip. This is why we can sometimes feel this more in winter, when the days are shorter and we go outside less.
It helps to strengthen your immune system by energising T cells that play an essential role in our immunity.
Sunlight helps to improve sleep. "The brighter your daylight exposure, the more melatonin you produce at night," explains Dr. Mithu Storoni, author of Stress-Proof.
Studies have found spending time in the sun can reduce body fat and help with weight loss. Researchers at the University of Alberta in Canada found that the fat cells under your skin shrink when they’re exposed to blue light from the sun.
It has been known to help to lower blood pressure. In a study conducted by researchers at Edinburgh University, moderate exposure to the sun's UV rays can cause a significant drop in blood pressure levels.
Vitamin D also helps your body to absorb calcium, which in turn promotes strong bones, keeps your immune system strong and prevents illness.
So next time you’re feeling flat or like you need to reach for a double espresso to get you though the day, maybe try switching it to taking a moment outside, feeling the sun on your skin and recharging yourself with the free stuff.
