Morning Sunbath Health Benefits | What is Good Time for Vitamin D from Sunlight? | Precautions to Take While Sunbathing | Natural Vitamin D, D2 and D3 Supplement | Holistic and Traditional Uses of Sunlight
The sun is the source of life on earth. Most of India’s ancient books have references that, Sun rays are nature’s excellent healing agent. There is no food, no light, no warmth, no health, no joy or happiness without the sun. Sunlight is the best curative agent in nature’s laboratory. It is no wonder that many cultures worship the sun. In our solar system, whatever colors we perceive come from sun rays. We may imagine that it is the physical manifestation of the divine, the provider or the life giver.
Natural Vitamin D, D2 and D3 Supplement
Vitamin D3 is also popular as “sunshine” vitamin. D3 can be produced in our skin from the energy of the sun’ ultraviolet light, and it is not found in rich supply in any food. Vitamin D3 is important for calcium and phosphorus absorption, and helps to regulate calcium metabolism. Vitamin D3 is present in the rays of the sun, fish (salmon, mackerel, tuna, swordfish, rainbow trout), oyster, prawns, milk, egg yolks, beef liver, cod liver oil. Where as D2 is present in butter, cheese, tofu, sprouted seeds, orange juice, almond milk, and soy milk. Because very few foods contain vitamin D, many people have insufficient levels. A deficiency can cause gross deformation of bones and severe tooth decay. Low vitamin D supplement has link with poor cognitive function and dementia.
15 Morning Sunbath Health Benefits
Sunlight plays an important role in the recovery from chronic diseases. Judicious use of sunlight can be part of the curing process in almost every affliction. The rays of the sun improve digestion and nutrition, quicken blood and lymph circulation and increase the elimination of impurities through the skin. Sunlight is very effective in the treatment of chlorosis, anemia, leukemia, emaciation, muscular debility, degeneration of heart and liver, dropsical effusion, softening of bones, nervous excitability, physical deformity, stunted growth. Here are few morning sunbath health benefits.
- Anemia: During anaemia, full sun baths are most beneficial as sunlight stimulates the production of red cells.
- Psoriasis: Natural sunlight is an excellent remedy for psoriasis. Though doctors don’t have the full explanation that how it works for psoriasis. Sunlight decreases the activity of the skin’s T cells. These specialized cells produce substances called cytokines, which initiate a cycle of inflammation. When you expose T cells to sunlight, it quells their action, breaking the cycle. Ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun suppresses the skin’s immune response and damages the production of skin cells, slowing their overproduction and reducing scaling. As sunlight contains both UVB and UVA, phototherapy with ultraviolet light B (UVB) is a conventional treatment. Every day, spend 15 to 30 minutes in the sun, and you should see results in less than six weeks. Daily, short (5 to 10 minutes), nonburning exposure to midday sunlight clears or improves psoriasis.
- Athlete’s Foot: Expose feet to direct sunlight while sunbath. Sunlight can inhibit bacterial growth. Sunbaths revive dead skin and help maintain it in a normal condition.
- Eczema: Sun bathing is beneficial for eczema as it kills the harmful bacteria. Try to take sunbath early in the morning, in the first light of dawn.
- Arthritis: Ultraviolet light stimulates vitamin D production in the skin, and is essential for calcium absorption from the intestines. Catch some rays for your bone health. Higher levels of this vitamin (and greater exposure to sunlight) correlate with a lower risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
- Sore Throats: Go outdoors if it is a sunny day and direct some solar rays directly into the throat at the site of pain. Spend three to five minutes getting sunlight right in your throat. Sunlight is one of nature’s great antiseptic agents. You can feel the warmth and healing right away.
- Rays of sun helps regulate your menstrual cycle. Sunlight helps produce vitamin D in the body which helps to regulate body hormones too.
- TB: Sunshine is essential during tuberculosis treatment as tuber bacilli are rapidly killed by exposure to sun rays.
- Diaper Rashes: To heal diaper rash, it is necessary to keep baby’s bottom dry as much as possible. Expose it to sunlight whenever it is possible, and change the diapers more often. These remedies can also help ease sore bottom.
- Dandruff: Exposure of the head to the rays of the sun is also a useful measure in the treatment of dandruff. Go outdoors without a hat for about 15 minutes or so. Sun exposure helps manage some of the skin conditions that can cause scalp flakiness.
- Jet Lag: For travelers, take advantage of sunlight to get in sync with the new time zone. Early morning light will shift your clock earlier and bright light later in the day shifts your clock later. To avoid jet lag, If you land during the day, get some sunbath as sunlight recharge your batteries. This will help you adjust to the new time zone.
- SAD: It is a seasonal affective disorder and melatonin is responsible for it. Melatonin is hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain. During the fall or winter usually sunlight supply is short, which results in to increased production of melatonin. This causes blue mood, low energy, prolonged sleep, cravings for sugar and starch, and weight gain. To regulate melatonin production try getting enough sunlight. On sunny winter days, take outdoor walk or sunbath. An hour’s walk in winter sunlight is effective at reducing SAD symptoms. A dose of real sun is far more effective than bright artificial light. Different experiments shows that, sunlight affects levels of mood-regulating brain chemicals such as serotonin. Diminished sunlight exposure in winter contributes to changes brain chemistry and plays important role in seasonal mood changes.
- Breast Cancer: Breast cancer rates have been reported to be relatively high in areas of low exposure to sunlight. Sunlight triggers the formation of vitamin D in the skin, which can be activated in the liver and kidneys into a hormone with great activity. This activated form of vitamin D causes “cellular differentiation” – essentially the opposite of cancer. Study shows that vitamin D3 supplement might have activated role in against breast cancer.
- Depression: We have all felt the inner joy of feeling the light and warmth of the sun after a number of cold, dark, cloudy days. Let the sun shine in. Go outside. Bask in the sun for 15 minutes without sunscreen. In response to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, your skin makes vitamin D, which is important for mental function and mood. Sitting in a bright, sunny spot may be too energizing and distracting, just as sitting in the dark can put you to sleep.
- Eye Strengthening: Close your eyes and allow the sunlight to rest upon your closed eyelids for 3 to 5 minutes. It is called “sunning.” It is done by standing or sitting with closed eyes (though no glasses or contacts). Then move your head slowly from the left to the right, allowing the sun’s rays to gently cross over closed eyes. This is best done outside, preferably when surrounded by the calm, cooling, healing green colors of nature.
5 Holistic and Traditional Uses of Sunlight
Apart from being a natural vitamin d3 supplement, here are few more uses of sun light.
- Color Therapy: Color is nothing but light, and light is radiant energy imparted from every atom. The rays of the sun contain seven different colors – violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. These are natural colors which are highly beneficial with healing properties to the maintenance of health and for healing diseases. The vibratory energy of the colors may be used to help establish balance in mind and body. Every color has a different wavelength, frequency, and vibration. This concept is useful during color therapy. Placing colored, translucent paper or plastic wrap around a jar or glass of water and placing it in sunlight for four hours, will infuse the water with the vibrations of that color. Drinking the water will then bring beneficial results.
- Solar Tea: Place 1 cup (30 g) of herb or herb mixture or 12 tea bags and 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water in a clear glass container with a tight-fitting lid. Place directly in the hot sunlight for 4 to 6 hours. Strain before serving. Note that sun teas also work best with leaves and flowers.
- Sun Light Infused Oils: Place the herbs and oil in a glass jar; cover tightly. Place the jar in a warm, sunny spot. Let the mixture infuse for 2 weeks, after which you may strain the oil, add a fresh batch of herbs, infuse for 2 more weeks, and strain again. This will give you a very potent medicinal oil. Use cheesecloth or a muslin cloth to strain the oil, squeezing out the spent herbs to extract every last drop of oil.
- Surya Namaskar: Popularly known as Sun Salutation. It is the series of yoga postures done in a certain sequence with coordinated breathing. Performing 12 sets of Sun Salutations is one of the best exercises for the entire body. The salutation to the sun is an excellent way to prepare the body for meditation in the morning.
- Equanimity: Sun teaches us equanimity. Sun is the best example of equanimity that means treating all phenomena equally. Sun shines upon everything equally. The sun does not choose to shine upon some things and not upon others.
What is Good Time for Vitamin D from Sunlight?
Can you get vitamin d on a cloudy day? Do I get vitamin d through clothes? Can we get enough sunbath from 4pm sun light? What is the best time to get most of vitamin D3 supplement from sunlight? This is the most common question. But answer is depend upon many factors. Here are few:
- Season: During the summer, ideal time is at sunrise when the rays are weak. During summer sunrays shines with full strength between 10 A.M. to 3 P.M., so better to avoid this time slot. During winter, midday is best time to get full benefit of sun rays.
- Skin Color: May be you won’t hear to like this but it’s the truth. Yes skin color effects the time required to absorb the most of sunlight you need to make vitamin D. Light skinned people need 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure to generate plenty of vitamin D. Dark skinned people, who are more at risk for vitamin D insufficiency, need longer exposure.
- Geographical Location: If you are staying at high altitude area, then less time is better. Because of thin atmospheric layer, UV rays intensify by 8-10 % than that of lower altitudes or sea level.
Precautions to Take While Sunbathing
- Establish a healthy relationship with the sun. You need about 15 minutes of sunshine a day to keep your body in proper working order.
- Try to get your daily dose of sunlight in the early morning hours, when the rays are weak.
- Avoid or minimize exposure to sunlight from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. Those are the peak hours of the sun’s strength.
- Limit your time in the direct sun to no more than half an hour. At high altitudes, even this may be too long.
- Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause cold sores, conjunctivitis, sun burn, skin cancer. The sun is, after all, a source of radiation.
- Sunscreen interferes with sunbathing process. Avoid using it just before exposure to sun light.
- Though clothes allow passing some percentage of sunlight, avoid wearing UV protected outfit. Shorts with a sleeveless t shirt is the best suit.
- Wear a hat to protect your face while sunbath.
- If you must go out in broad daylight, wear protective clothing and use sunscreen.