After discussing staying safe while having fun in the sun, let’s look at the benefits of spending time in sunlight. As the days get longer and warmer, we begin to spend more time outside and begin to feel the benefits of sunlight for health.
One of the biggest benefits sunlight provides is that it helps the body produce vitamin D. Vitamin D helps boost our mood, energy levels, and can even help us sleep better at night [Cleveland Clinic].
At Remote Area Medical (RAM®), we want to encourage you to take care of your health. That means both inside and outside of the clinic. The benefits of sunlight can help mental and physical health — making you feel better overall.
Benefits of Sunlight for Health —
We often hear that being out in the sun is good for your health, but why is that? The most well-known reason is because sunlight helps the body produce vitamin D, an essential vitamin. In addition, being out in the sun can positively affect many more areas of physical health.
Exposure to sunlight has been shown to improve [Cleveland Clinic]:
- Sleep Quality
- Energy Levels
- Physical Performance (including muscle function)
- Cognitive function
- Lower blood pressure [American Heart Association]
Benefits of vitamin D —
More than 90% of our vitamin D comes from being exposed to sunlight, according to Dr. Garven with the Cleveland Clinic. This is why it is important to spend even just 10-30 minutes outside each day.
“Approximately 35% of adults in the U.S. have vitamin D deficiency,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Because vitamin D supports many different aspects of our overall health and well-being, it’s concerning that so many people in the U.S. have a vitamin D deficiency. But there are ways to correct it. Some of the most common ways to increase vitamin D levels are through exposure to sunlight, eating foods such as fish, eggs, or mushrooms, or, if that is not an option, taking vitamin D3 supplements.
Vitamin D supports [Cleveland Clinic]:
- Strong bones
- A healthy immune system
- A better mood, improved mental health
- Cardiovascular health
- Good muscle function
Ways to spend time outdoors —
Dr. Garven shared that even 10-30 minutes outside in the sun can help promote higher levels of vitamin D.
To get your daily dose of sunlight, spending just a few minutes outside daily will do the trick — but what should you do while you’re spending time outside?
- Go for a walk — Take your dog, friends, family, or even a good audiobook or podcast on a stroll around your neighborhood or local park.
- Go for a run — Running is another great way to get your daily cardio and dose of vitamin D.
- Go for a hike — Find a local trail, bring lots of water, and spend time exploring your area. Use resources like AllTrails to find hiking trails near you and sort by distance and difficulty.
- Gardening — Spend some time tending to a garden for a bit of physical activity while getting the benefits from sunlight.
- Sitting outside — Even just sitting outside relaxing is a good way to increase your vitamin D levels and feel the benefits of sunlight.
No matter what you choose to do while you’re outside, getting out there can boost your levels of vitamin D and boost your overall mood while supporting your health.
Enjoy your time in the sun —
Warmer weather and longer days offer more opportunities to get outside and be physically active. Increased physical activity can help support so many aspects of our health and living a healthy lifestyle [Center for Disease Control (CDC)].
So, get outside and soak up the sunshine, but do so safely. Read about how to “practice sun safety” and how to protect yourself against some of the potential harmful effects of UV exposure.
If you want something to read while you’re sitting outside this summer, read our latest blog posts. They’re sure to keep you entertained while you get your daily dose of vitamin D.
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Who cares for our patients at each of our free clinics? Our wonderful volunteers! Whether you are a medical, dental, or vision professional, or would like to help as a general support volunteer, we would love to see you volunteering at one of our upcoming clinics!
Do you or someone you know need to visit one of RAM’s free healthcare clinics? Be sure to check our schedule for the most up-to-date information on where we’ll be and when we’ll be there.
Read More: https://www.ramusa.org/07/uv-safety-awareness-month-staying-safe-outside-this-summer/