Why You Need to Consult Dr. Sun More
We are natural beings.
We are made by nature and it's also in nature that we will get our healing.
And I believe that one of the readily available yet most underused and misunderstood natural medicines is Vitamin Sun.
☀️ Get Some Vitamin Sun
It had been a practice before but as we grew older, we were exposed less and less to life-giving sunlight.
When you were a newborn baby, your mother exposed you to the early morning sun every day for at least fifteen minutes. If a neighbor asked her why she was doing it, she’d echo what her mother told her, "Para lumakas at tumibay ang buto (to strengthen my baby's bones)”.
You see, it's in our intuition--the deep voice and knowledge within us that we need to be under the sun. And this natural wisdom is absolutely right. Because the body needs the sun's rays, which have ultraviolet light to produce vitamin D. This vitamin strengthens our bones.
But think about it: If babies need it, why not adults?
Why have we stopped going under the morning sun for at least fifteen minutes daily? As the Bible says, "The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun" (Ecclesiastes 11:7, NASB).
Many people are sick because they lack vitamin D.
Here are some diseases when a person lacks vitamin D
We are creating a generation of vitamin D-deficient people who fear the sun. You get enough vitamin D for only fifteen minutes of sunbathing.
Aside from vitamin D production, exposing ourselves to sunlight also has other amazing benefits.
☀️ Ways Sunlight Affects Your Body
Sunlight triggers growth and an increase in height of children. Many cultures around the world have recognized this.
The warmth of the sun opens up our blood vessels and improves blood circulation. There are medical studies that show how hardened arteries (atherosclerosis) improve with repeated good sunlight exposure.
Sunlight also enhances the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, similar to the benefits of exercise. It boosts endurance, stamina, and muscle strength.
Sunlight exposure heals wounds faster by killing bad bacteria.
The soldiers in World War I used sunlight to heal and disinfect wounds. They got this idea from the discoveries of Nobel Prize laureate Niels Finsen who made significant research on the health benefits of phototherapy. Sunlight helps improve conditions of people with bacterial and fungal infections, psoriasis, eczema, and acne.
Sunlight builds your immune system. The increased production of white blood cells called lymphocytes is associated with increased exposure to the sun.
Sunlight is a natural antidepressant, too! The feeling we get under the sun boosts serotonin production. This hormone is associated with uplifting our mood and makes a person more calm and focused. That's why one of the best prescriptions for depressed patients is to get daily sunlight.
Open the curtains and get out of the room. Do your activities outside, under the sun.
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☀️ Why Do People Lack Sunlight?
It's because no one is marketing sunlight as medicine.
No one can bottle or encapsulate sunlight and earn from it.
In contrast, there are many companies making sunscreen lotion and they're telling you to always protect your skin from the sun.
Yes, I agree, staying under the sun for many hours is bad. But don't protect yourself from the sun completely—or you get sick. Some people in the city have a lifestyle that causes them to miss out on the benefits of sunlight because they always stay indoors.
Some go to the office as early as dawn and leave work after sunset. What you can do is force yourself to go outside during breaks and even do meetings al fresco or in the park.
Note: Osteoporosis is more common among African Americans because people with dark skin have more pigment, making it harder for them to absorb sunlight. So they need to stay longer under the sun to get their daily dose of vitamin D.
☀️ How Much Sunlight Do I Need
Get enough sunlight every day. The rule is, the longer the shadow, the longer you can stay under the sun.
The best time for sunlight is sunrise to early morning from dawn to 8 a.m. You can also catch good sunlight from 4 p.m. towards sunset. During these times of the day, you can take your time, as long as you want, under the sun.
When the sun gets higher, like from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., your shadow is shorter, so you should expose yourself less, like five to ten minutes.
In my daily routine, I try to walk around the park in the village early in the morning. And when lunchtime comes, I go outside the office, walk under the sun to buy food and walk back. The exposure time is just around ten minutes and that's good enough. I encourage you to check out the difference in your body when you're under the sun and when you lack sunlight in your daily routine. Then you'll be the one to make the prescription that best suits you when it comes to how much sunlight you need every day.
☀️ What To Avoid while Under the Sun
The most common problem with staying too long under the sun is sunburn. If you plan to have prolonged sun exposure for outdoor activities or at the beach, get sunscreen to avoid getting the irritating and painful feeling of sunburn. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are also concerns if you stay too long under the sun especially when doing vigorous activities.
What you need to do is to keep yourself hydrated, best with water and fresh fruit juices like buko juice. Avoid sugary drinks and alcohol--they're diuretics and make you lose body water. Applying a cold towel to your face and body is good, too; freshen up by taking a shower.
One more thing: there are certain conditions that require you to avoid exposure to sunlight because it may cause you more harm. An example of this is lupus (or systemic lupus erythematosus). The ultraviolet light from the sun can trigger symptoms of facial rash, joint pains, and fatigue in a person afflicted with lupus. Consult your healthcare provider when you develop symptoms like these.
☀️ Going Back to How We Are Made
We are creatures of the Earth. Scientists confirm that the amount of sunlight that we get here on Earth is perfect for life to abound. If we get a few meters nearer to the sun, we will burn because of extreme heat. A few meters farther from the sun and it will be too cold to sustain life. In other words, life wouldn't be possible on Earth if we had it any other way.
I believe that the Earth is positioned at the exact distance from the sun so we could live and inhabit it. Let's be grateful and enjoy being under the sun. It's a blessing!
👉 So, next time you go outdoors, feel the life-giving warmth of the sun and use your umbrella only when it's raining!
Thank God that we have good sunlight every day because we're in the tropics. Do you know there are higher incidences of mood disorders in places that have seasons of longer nights and shorter days? Modern medicine calls this seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression. Its primary cause is lack of exposure to sunlight. Because of winter, people tend to stay indoors. They have little activity and the general mood is dismal. It happens to people in gloomy weather but can also happen to those who stay inside the office most of the time.
American clergyman Henry Ward Beecher said, "I think you might dispense with half your doctors if you would only consult Dr. Sun more."
We receive tons of health benefits just by being under the sun regularly. Listen to your body and get some sunlight every day.