If you’re like most Americans, you feel like your energy has got up and went. 1 out of every 5 of us say the fatigue interferes with our everyday life. Maybe our stress is higher than it needs to be or we’re not getting good sleep or our outside commitments are overwhelming. Whatever the reason, we’re feeling drained and dragging.
1. Sunshine and Heart Health: How can the sun boost your energy? A recent study at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland found that 20 minutes of the sun releases nitric oxide n our blood vessels. Nitric oxide is an essential gas that lowers blood pressure by keeping our arteries and veins dilated and clear. It prevents the build up of arterial plaque which can lead to fatal heart attacks and strokes.
2. Sunshine and Better Sleep: Daily sunshine also helps to produce serotonin, an important hormone that helps you get those important Zzzzs. When you get sunshine early in the day, your pineal gland releases the hormone seratonin As night falls, your stores of this hormone will become transformed into melatonin which helps your body to get restful sleep. But those stores of seratonin also are working for you because they help you feel more wide awake when morning comes. The two work together to beat insomnia and give you more vital energy.
3. Sunshine and Less Sickness: No one likes to be sick. How can you stay clear of the many viruses going around? Sunshine gives our immune system the push it needs to fight bacteria and viruses.It turns out that vitamin D fires up our body’s defenses. It transforms our T cells into killer T cells, which seek out infections attacking our body.Scientists are now saying that sunshine could play a vital role in fighting contagious diseases. And no doctor’s prescription needed!
4. Sunshine and Cancer: Here’s one for the guys. A study from the U.S. National Cancer Institute found that men who get a daily dose of sunshine reduce their risk for kidney cancer by 38%. The authors of this study say this is due to the higher amounts of vitamin D that are being absorbed.
5. Sunshine and Diabetes: Did you know that type 2 diabetics have lower levels of vitamin D than people who are diabetes free? This is one reason for the higher risk that diabetics have with heart disease. But spending as little as 20 minutes outside can help pre-diabetics and diabetics prevent heart disease, neuropathy and other complications associated with this disease.
But this natural remedy isn’t just important for diabetics. It’s vital for all of us because an adequate amount of vitamin D, often called the sunshine vitamin, can help us prevent diabetes. It’s only one piece of the puzzle, but it’s an important one. So enjoy some sunshine every day. Get out in the garden. Go for a stroll after eating. Spend some time in the park. Walk the dog.
It’s all going to boost your health.
