Remember to Include Sunlight in the Winter Months
By Tom Herrin
When the time rolls around to begin seeing shorter days, lots of people fall back into some old habits. It is easy to do as many of us tend to be those kinds of creatures anyway. The habit I am referring to here is the one in which we may close up our homes and, virtually, shut ourselves out from the rest of the world. At least, that is what we may do once we begin to see shorter days. It can be a little like hibernating until we see the bright sunlight of spring. It is a somewhat natural mistake, but we will be much healthier if we can include more sunlight in our day throughout the year. Finding ways to get that in winter may go a long way toward protecting our health year round.
The Sun Means Energy
The notion that we may get energy from the sun is not new. From our early days in school, we have learned that all energy comes from the sun and is stored in various ways. It works a little like that with our bodies. When the sunlight strikes our eyes, it can stimulate the brain to increase the metabolism. This can be easily recognized by opening a room up to sunlight early in the day. Anyone who is barely awake may suddenly find that they are awake and full of energy when this happens. It can appear almost miraculous.
The Sun May Rev up the Immunities
Having the ability to fight off disease is a pretty important part of good health. That is what allows us to live life among all kinds of circumstances. Sunlight is a great means of having help for immunity. The Vitamin D it contains helps to strengthen bones and fight inflammation. It also is thought to help fight several kinds of cancers including those of the lungs, colon, pancreas, and more. It is also known to help activate T cells which are recognized for their role in creating defenses against many kinds of diseases.
Some Choices Are Easy
Anytime there is no cost involved in something, it seems to make choosing it a lot simpler. That is the great thing about sunlight, unless we somehow run out of it completely, it is free. All we have to do is open a window. If we can't do that, going outside can be even better. Spending a few minutes per day taking in sunlight doesn't require much effort, but the rewards can be better overall health.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Bluffton, S.C.