Sunlight benefits, precautions, and how to enjoy the sun.

It is known that exposure to a lot of sunlight is good for your health as vitamin D is synthesized in the body.  However, there are people who don't want to go outside but want to replenish vitamin D, so they bask in the sunlight by the window.  However, sunlight shining through a window does not help synthesize vitamin D.  In this post, we will learn about the benefits of sunlight, precautions when exposed to sunlight, and how to enjoy exposure to sunlight.

Sunlight benefits, precautions, and how to enjoy the sun. Let’s know these things right away!

References

• Health Chosun in Korea May 5, 2024
• Hello TV News in Korea, April 26, 2024
• April 14, 2024 Hidoc in Korea

 

Sunshine effect.  Vitamin D production, helpful for joint/mental health

• Vitamin D, which is synthesized in the body through sunlight, is an essential human hormone produced in the liver and kidneys (when vitamin D is half lower than the optimal level, the risk of early death increases by 25%)
• Vitamin D produces calcium and strengthens bones.
• Blue rays in sunlight activate immune cells in the body, improving the body's overall immunity.
• When you spend less time in sunlight, serotonin, known as the happiness hormone, is not secreted as well, making you feel more depressed and lethargic than usual.

Precautions when exposed to sunlight.  Sunlight through the window cannot synthesize vitamin D.

• To synthesize vitamin D in the body, UVB must reach deep into the skin, the dermis layer.
• However, ultraviolet rays needed for vitamin D synthesis do not pass through glass.
• Therefore, sunlight shining through a window has no effect on vitamin D synthesis.
• Deficiency or excess of serotonin or melatonin produced through sunlight can potentially cause feelings of irritability and anxiety along with depression.
• Burns caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight are called ‘sunburns,’ which cause the skin to turn red and cause pain.
• Excessive exposure to sunlight causes aging symptoms such as wrinkles when the skin dries out and collagen, which plays an important role in maintaining skin elasticity, is destroyed.

 

How to get some sun.  It is effective to open the screen and expose for 10 to 15 minutes.

• If you want to synthesize vitamin D indoors, you must open all windows and insect screens wide.
• You must roll up both your pants and sleeves and expose yourself to the sun without applying sunscreen (Caution: Excessive exposure to direct sunlight can cause wrinkles and decreased skin elasticity, and in severe cases, strong ultraviolet rays can cause skin cancer, cataracts, etc.)
• Exposure to sunlight for about 10 to 15 minutes a day is appropriate, and it is recommended to wear sunglasses to prevent eye diseases.

In this post, we learned about the benefits of sunlight, precautions when exposed to sunlight, and how to enjoy exposure to sunlight.  Please take good care of your health by getting enough sunlight.