That big yellow blob in the sky has so many benefits for us! We teach our children to get outside and play but did you know all the amazing benefits the sun can give us, even as adults?
The Benefits of the Sun:
The way our bodies and the sun interact is, I think, pretty fascinating. Our bodies have, not surprisingly, been designed to work with the sun that provides so many awesome things for our world.
Gives us Energy:
The sun helps our bodies and cells have and store energy. When sunlight enters our bodies, it begins to structure the water in our cells to stimulate capillary flow. This increases blood flow which is great for removing toxins and getting healing nutrients to the places in our body that need it. The water in our cells can also retain energy, just like when we heat water to cook with and it holds onto that heat and energy. I highly recommend the books “The Fourth Phase of Water: Beyond Solid, Liquid, Vapor” by Gerald H. Pollack and “Vitamin News” by Dr. Royal Lee (published by Selene River Press) to learn more about this fascinating subject.
Regulates our Circadian System, Hormones and Mood:
We are made to be happy creatures and the sun stimulates opiate production which gives us happiness, pleasure, and enjoyment. This can also help us reduce stress levels.
The sun also gives us a boost of melatonin, to help regulate our circadian system and hormones. When we wake up in the morning and get sun into our eyes, it triggers our bodies to make melatonin. It’s the balance to cortisol, which keeps us alert. As the day goes on, our cortisol levels decrease as alertness is less needed. Melatonin kicks in and spikes in the evening to bring about rest and sleep. Melatonin is released when light is absent so watching the sun set and then keeping any light in the red and yellow spectrum, like fire light, lamp light or candlelight, will help you sleep. Melatonin helps us sleep but it also helps us heal and is an antioxidant. It helps trigger cell recycling and new cell creation.
Remember, all hormones affect other hormones so everything in your body will be affected in some way by your melatonin production!
Helps Us Detox:
UV light is important for clearing our skin. Think about newborn babies with jaundice skin. What is the recommendation? Putting them in the sun! Our modern windows often have UV blockers in them. It’s great for not fading our furniture but it also means the UV light from the sun that we need isn’t entering our homes. So get out in the sun!
For some people, this detox response can be too strong and too much. Remember to build up your sun exposure gradually.
Increases Vitamin D levels:
This is probably the piece of sunlight exposure most of us are familiar with. Vitamin D is important for bone health, immunity, mood, and inflammation control. It’s an interesting vitamin because it acts like a hormone and is much more complicated than many other vitamins we know.
Vitamin D works with Calcium. While it normally pulls calcium from the gut, it will continue to pull calcium from wherever it can find it - like our teeth, bones, and muscle tissues. This is why if we have too much sun exposure, we can get sun sick, causing leg cramps, vulnerability to infections like canker sores or shingles, moody, and an overall feeling of BLEH. Combat this by making sure you have enough calcium from raw milk or a cultured dairy product, and making sure you have enough Vitamin F, which will put calcium back into your tissues. Vitamin F is a fatty acid that can be found in Cataplex F from Standard Process or from fermented cod liver oil with concentrated butter oil.
The darker your skin and more melanin you have in your skin, the longer period of time you’ll need to spend in the sun to create Vitamin D.
How to Stay Safe in the Sun Naturally:
Eat a lot of fat! Fat rich diets can be protective to the skin from sunburns. The fatty acids, protect the skin and keep calcium where it should be. This means the immune system will be more balanced and cells healthier. I have personally observed that changing my diet to include a lot of fat and taking Vitamin F have helped to prevent sunburn on my skin, even with long periods of sun exposure.
Start in the morning. Afternoon sun is often too much for us and our bodies. Historically, we would have been out in the morning and evening. Starting in the morning will help your body buildup and will start your day with an opiate boost which can give you energy and put you in a good mood.
Only get as much sun exposure as your skin is ready for. Work your way up to being in the sun for longer and longer periods of time.
Cover up with a light shirt or button to keep your skin cooler and wear a hat.
Don’t wear sunglasses! I know this isn’t a popular suggestion BUT hear me out. Our eyes are sensitive if we are deficient in Vitamin A. Vitamin A can be found in Fermented Cod Liver Oil. Work your eyes up slowly to being without sunglasses, like trying no sunglasses outside on a gloomy day. If you are on the water or in the snow, you can go blind from the sun. This is an appropriate time to wear sunglasses.
Drinking a lot of water is helpful and something your body is craving when it’s hot. If you’re sweating a lot, make sure to add salt to your water to help replenish your electrolytes.
Use a natural SPF. Coconut oil, carrot seed oil, zinc oxide, and other herbs and oils have natural SPFs. A natural form of sunscreen won’t damage your cells. I created my own sunscreen as I was building up my tolerance to sun using this recipe and found it to work pretty well. If you’re going to be outside for only a short period of time, try not to wear sunscreen.
Seek shade! If you are outside for a longer period of time than you know your body is ready for, find shade.
Keep yourself cool with peppermint oil! I add 5 drops to a spritzer bottle and spritz onto my skin to help stay cool.
If you’re out for only a short period of time try to not wear sunscreen, if you are out for a long period of time, longer than you know your body is ready for seek shade and wear a light cotton layer, find a natural form of sunscreen to not damage your cells
If you get sunburned and you have a spot that is taking a long time to heal, watch it. Try not to get burned in the same place over and over. Watch your moles for any changes and get anything funky checked out.
How to Deal with Sweat Naturally:
Sweat can be a challenge to address if you are going the all natural way because antiperspirants and deodorants use chemicals to stop odor and minimize sweat.
Try essential oils. The “Purify” blend from DoTerra, Wild Orange or Clary Sage essential oils can reduce sweat and odor.
Look at your diet! Your body sheds toxins partially through your skin. When you eat poorly, your body will detox more, causing you to sweat more and for the sweat to have more odor.
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can contribute to excessive sweating. If you need help balancing your diet and ensuring you’re getting the right vitamins and minerals, talk to a health practitioner like me!
Overall, remember: sun exposure is good BUT do it safely!
Want to learn more about the benefits of sunshine? Watch my recent video class below!