Seven Reasons to Enjoy the Sun
With the Summer in full swing and the sun coming out to say “Hello”, there are many reasons that it is good to get out in the sun. Here are seven of them, followed by a recipe for sun cream and after sun :
- Boosts your mood
Being out in the sun, increases the levels of serotonin – one of the feel good hormones – in the brain. Regular exposure to sunshine along with exercise can help to stave off moderate depression.
- Lowers Blood Pressure
Researchers seem to have discovered why. What they found is that nitric oxide, stored in the top layer of the skin, reacts to sunlight and causes the blood vessels to widen as the oxide moves into the bloodstream. This in turn lowers the blood pressure. If further tests prove this to be true, exposure to ultraviolet light coul be used as a treatment for heart disease
- Reduces Risk of Cancer
Researchers have found that exposure to sunlight – which causes the body to produce Vitamin D – can help to prevent cancer, so much so that pharmaceutical companies are trying to synthesise this in labs as a treatment for the disease. The Vitamin D produced by exposure to sunlight can help with treatment of ovarian, prostate, colon and breast cancers.
The National Cancer Institute of America found that cancer cells have an abnormally high number of Vitamin D receptors and therefore when Vitamin D is added to the cells it stops them from multiplying.
There are many reports telling us that excess exposure to sunlight can cause skin cancer, however studies have more recently found that chemicals in sun creams and pollutants such as organophosphates and dioxins are more likely to be the cause.
- Good For The Bones And More
Vitamin D is also great for :
The bones as it regulates the absorption and use of calcium and phosphorous
Cell growth and maturity – hence why its role in cancer prevention is so valid
Immune system – parts of the bone marrow where immune cells are made respond to Vitamin D
Insulin – Vitamin D plays a role in the secretion of insulin by the pancreas, helping in the regulation of blood sugar
Nervous System – Vitamin D regulates the levels of calcium in the blood, which is vital for nerve impulse transition and muscle contraction
5. Relieves Aches and Pains
Studies have found that those with chronic pain had significantly lower levels of Vitamin D in their blood, than those who had no pain, leading scientists to conclude that having the correct levels of Vitamin D can help reduce levels of pain. Just 10 to 15 minutes exposure to the sun each day, can help to increase levels of this vitamin to an acceptable level.
Vitamin D3 is the closest supplement to the Vitamin D that we are given by the sun. (This can be obtained from our friends at Cytoplan – If ordering use Organic Guinea Pig when asked for your practitioner)
- Boosts Fertility
Sunlight reduces the level of the hormone melatonin in the body. This is responsible for suppressing fertility, so it is more likely people will conceive in the sunnier months, especially as sunlight is also known to increase the testosterone level in men.
A study in Turkey showed that exposure to sunlight can also increase the length of your fertility. The Turkish study revealed that women who got less than an hour of sunlight a week reached menopause 7-9 years earlier than those who got greater exposure
- Gives You More Energy
Talking about melatonin, this hormone also regulates sleep and therefore having lower levels in your body, gives you more get up and go. This is why you need less sleep in the Summer months, but still feel livelier. It also helps to be woken by natural light rather than an alarm clock in the dark!
Natural Sun Cream Recipe
10 drops of lavender oil
10 drops of frankincense oil
¾ cup of coconut oil
2 tbsp shea butter
2 tbsp zinc oxide
Put a saucepan with a couple of inches of water on to boil. Place in the water a glass jar. Add ingredients (EXCEPT zinc oxide) to the jar. When they have all melted, add the zinc oxide and stir to mix thoroughly. Store in a cool place (even in the fridge).
Sun cream should be reapplied every 3-4 hours. It should have a natural SPF of 20 or more. To increase the SPF (for those with fairer skin for instance) add more zinc oxide (SPF increase by 10 with each additional spoon of zinc oxide). Be aware that the higher the zinc oxide concentration the whiter the sun cream will stay when applied.
After sun recipe
Use a natural liquid body lotion, such as cocoa butter, shea butter or avocado butter. Add to a handful 5 drops of frankincense oil and 5 drops of lavender oil and apply liberally to the skin, rubbing in as deeply as you can. Use this in the early evening and then again before bed.
