Soak Up The Sun

Used sensibly, the sun can be the ultimate health booster – here’s how to get all the benefits from those rays.

- Rebecca Speechley

There’s nothing quite like a good dose of sunshine to SOAK UP lift your mood and make you feel better – and that feelgood factor isn’t just in your mind, the sun really does have the power to improve your health and wellbeing. While it’s still important to protect your skin from UV rays, studies show that a sensible amount of sunshine every day could help to boost your immunity.

Uplifting light

Throw open your curtains and let the morning sunlight flood in for the ultimate mood boost. “Sunlight increases your serotonin levels which, in turn, may make you happier,” says Dr Ross Perry, sun expert and medical director of Cosmedics UK. “Serotonin is your body’s natural happy hormone, an important chemical and neurotransmitter that is believed to help regulate your mood, behaviour, appetite, digestion, sleep and memory.”

An early-morning sunshine hit could also give your energy levels a boost by regulating another hormone in your body called melatonin. “Melatonin is produced in the pineal gland of your brain. It’s responsible for regulating your sleep cycles,” says Dr Perry. “Studies have suggested that without daily exposure to sunlight, we don’t produce optimal levels of melatonin, which could make us feel sluggish and tired. During the summer when you’re exposed to the sun and see more daylight, you probably notice that you need less sleep but feel just as lively. That’s all down to the sun revving up your melatonin levels.”

DID YOU KNOW?