For decades now people have been increasingly straying away from spending time outside in the sunshine. There are many reasons for this: harmful UV rays, skin cancer, heat stroke, sunburn, and lifestyle choices like overindulging in video games and television can keep many people inside on pretty days.
I remember when my boys were babies I had several friends who never joined us on park or playground days, neighborhood walks or other activities that kept us outside for extended periods of time. They never really gave any reasons, but I detected a hint of germophobia which I never really understood – there’s bound to be millions upon millions more germs in my home (which they didn’t mind spending time in) than there is in the great out-of-doors.
At any rate, I also remember that the friends who spent very little time outside with their babies had babies that seemed to be sick much more frequently than my brood a deux.
I have always been a firm believer in dirt and sunshine. I mean, what could be more natural than that? In fact my father’s motto is practically “Everybody needs their daily intake of dirt.” My motto: everything in moderation.
There are so many benefits to soaking up the sun and our bodies really do need it – at least in moderate doses. I would never advocate that anyone spends excessive time in broiling heat and sweltering sun, but a reasonable amount of time every day really does do a body good.
Here are just a few of the reasons why you should get off your heiney and head out the door:
Sunshine -
* helps young bodies grow and develop well,
* keeps you from being “pasty” and gives the body a nicer complexion,
* can build up an immunity in your body which protects the skin from UV
damage,
* makes tans. Not only are tanned bodies sexy, they are more resistant to skin infections and sunburn,
* contains UV rays which can help kill viruses, bacteria and other harmful
agents on your skin, which means you’ll be more resistant to illness,
* enhances the body’s immune system,
* improves digestion and speeds the metabolism,
* calms the nerves and boosts your mood, helping to stave off depression,
* helps convert cholesterol in the skin into vitamin D, which the body uses for healthier teeth and bones.
The amount of time that you should spend out in the sun is still up for debate, but at least 10 minutes per day is in order to reap all of the benefits mentioned above (and several others that I didn’t have room for here). The darker your skin is the more time you’ll need in the sunshine to get the rewards you seek, but do be careful not to expose your skin to too much harsh sunshine during the hours when the sun is the strongest in the summertime.
It’s ok to protect yourself while spending time outside, your body will still soak up the rays even if you wear a hat or sun screen. Just be sure to research your sunscreen before you slather it on. They are not all created equally. Just remember my motto: everything in moderation – look for the sunscreen that has moderate protection from UV rays.
The SPF that you choose is entirely up to you but be aware that a higher SPF does not protect you more than a lower SPF. The Sun Protection Factor tells you how LONG you’ll be protected from the sun’s rays, not how much. Therefore if you’re planning to spent just a few hours outside SPF 15 is fine, for much longer (like an entire day at the beach…aaaahhhhh) then you should choose something higher.
Do you remember The Secret Garden? Remember how that sickly little boy got better so quickly after the little girl forced him outside after he’d spend like 9 years cooped up in a completely sun-free room? While it was a fanciful and sweet little tale, there really is a lot of truth to the health benefits of spending time in the sunshine. So, close the Internet and grab your hiking boots, baseball equipment or gardening gloves ‘cause it’s gonna be a bright, bright, bright, bright sunshiny day!
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