Have you noticed that as we go into our summer period that your mood becomes more elevated and positive?  There are so many other benefits as well.

“The sun works through a number of receptors in the brain to affect our mental status and alertness,” says Dr. Michael Roizen, Chief Wellness Officer at Cleveland Clinic, Ohio. Moderate sunlight exposure helps improve your mood and focus by boosting the serotonin levels in your body.

It improves our sleep as the amount of daylight exposure you get is crucial in maintaining a normal circadian rhythm.  It promotes bone growth.  Vitamin D is a hormone that promotes calcium absorption and is essential for bone growth and formation. Since sunlight is a primary source of Vitamin D, the hormone is also dubbed as ‘the sunshine vitamin’. “The Vitamin D found in our body needs activation. The sun helps to convert inactive Vitamin D levels to active,” explains Dr. Roizen.

It helps strengthen the immune system. Vitamin D is also very important in signalling the immune system. It appears to be necessary in adequate amounts to turn on your ability to survey the rest of your cells,” says Dr.Roizen. Since regular sun exposure is one of the most robust ways to up active Vitamin-D levels in your body, it can help strengthen your immune system as well. “Inadequate levels of this vitamin have been associated with an increased rate of infection, cancer and mortality rate after surgery,” he adds.

It lowers blood pressure. According to a study conducted by researchers at the Edinburgh University, moderate exposure to the sun’s UV rays can cause a significant drop in blood pressure levels. Lower blood pressure levels help cut down the risk of stroke and heart disease.

It may reduce the risk of melanoma. Safe sun exposure may actually protect you from skin cancer. According to a study published in the Lancet Journal, the skin’s exposure to ultraviolet radiation of short wavelength (UVB) has been associated with a decreased risk of melanoma.

It promotes weight loss. Research reveals that basking in morning sunshine can reduce body fat and help you shed those extra pounds. The study suggests that as little as 20 to 30 minutes of early morning sun exposure is sufficient for you to lower your Body Mass Index (BMI) and trim your waistline.

It is worth having your Vitamin D levels tested each year to see if you need to supplement in order to avoid a deficiency.  Many people are unable to get enough sun exposure in order to have optimum levels.  A level of 20 nanograms/millilitre to 50 ng/mL is considered adequate for healthy people.  A level less than 12 ng/mL indicates Vitamin D deficiency.

Levels over 47ng/mL and above can make you immune to cold and flu viruses as Vitamin D controls whether or not the cell is receptive to infection.