logo
You Need Sunlight More Than You Think. 5 Surprising Ways the Sun Can Boost Your Health

You Need Sunlight More Than You Think. 5 Surprising Ways the Sun Can Boost Your Health

CNET15-07-2025
Summer is in full swing, which means many of us are spending plenty of time soaking in the sun. The best activities -- like getting gelato or hanging out in the park -- are generally reserved for the warm weather. But that's not the only reason you should ensure you're getting outside this summer. There are tangible health benefits that go along with sun exposure. But remember: It's important to be mindful of UV rays and heat exposure.
Read on to learn how the sun benefits your health and what precautions you should take to ensure you're enjoying the summer safely.
How much sunlight do you need?
The amount of sunlight a person needs varies based on several factors, including skin pigmentation, location and age. Even with the differences, Dr. David Johnson, a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of RedliteX, said, "You just need 10 to 30 minutes of sun a couple of times a week. You don't need to spend hours out there."
That's not to say you can't spend more time outside. If you do, wearing sunscreen to protect your skin is essential. Your skin is the body's biggest organ, so don't forget to take care of it.
Read more: We Found the Best Facial Sunscreens After Testing 87 Products
5 unexpected ways sunlight can help your health
Helps you hit your vitamin D needs
Vitamin D is essential for several bodily functions like regulating blood pressure, the immune system and blood sugar. It also contributes to your bone and muscle health. Sun exposure can help your body boost vitamin D production through biochemical reactions.
"UVB rays from the sun convert a compound in the skin to vitamin D3, which is then processed in the liver and kidneys to become active vitamin D (calcitriol)," said Dr. Ryan Sultan, a psychiatrist at Integrative Psych.
While the sun is a great option for passive vitamin D, it's worth noting that most people get their vitamin D from foods or supplements. I recommend the Nature Made Vitamin D3 dietary supplement if you're looking for a cheap and dependable supplement; it's what I take for low vitamin D.
FreshSplash/Getty Images
It helps regulate sleep
Our biological clock, also called the circadian rhythm, is regulated by sunlight. How that clock works all comes down to melatonin, the sleep hormone. When the sun is up, the melatonin in our brains is suppressed, so we are alert and awake. As the sun goes down, the brain releases melatonin, and we start to feel tired.
"Without this clock, nearly every physiological and psychological process in our body becomes dysregulated," said Sultan.
As Sultan points out, an aligned biological clock regulates mood and supports learning and memory. Misalignment can contribute to mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.
Our biological clocks can easily get thrown off because we no longer live solely by the sun. Electricity and blue lights from electronics can push off the release of melatonin, making it difficult to fall asleep. Johnson recommends people get 10 to 15 minutes outside in the morning to get their biological clocks back on track.
Boosts your mood
Another reason you should prioritize sunlight is that it can support your mental health by regulating your mood. Sunlight can increase the levels of serotonin production in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that acts as a hormone, often called the "feel-good" chemical. We feel emotionally stable and happy when serotonin levels are where they should be. When they're low, your risk of experiencing depression or depressive symptoms increases.
Sultan tells his patients to get outside for a morning walk. "It's motivating to start your day knowing you're doing something good for your mental and physical health. Sunlight is nature's antidepressant."
It may help skin disorder symptoms
Sunlight can also help reduce symptoms of skin conditions, like eczema. This happens partly because it helps make vitamin D, which is essential for reducing inflammation. Eczema is a chronic condition marked by dry or scaly skin, itchiness and redness. Flare-ups happen because your immune system overreacts to stimuli or allergens, which results in inflammation in the body that manifests as irritated patches of skin.
Sunlight can help other skin conditions, too.
"Small, secure amounts of sun can also calm the immune system. In people with skin diseases like psoriasis or vitiligo, this can mean fewer flares," said Johnson.
Getting sunlight may help your symptoms. However, it's not a replacement for regular treatment methods, and you should still be careful about how long you're outside. Sun exposure can be beneficial, but only briefly and only if you protect your skin while getting it.
Read more: 8 Best Products for Eczema with the National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance
Connect Images/Kills bacteria
Sunlight can also help protect you from bacteria and viruses lurking in your home. UV rays kill bacteria and viruses by damaging the DNA of the virus or bacteria, which stops it from being able to replicate and spread. This helps minimize the spread of illness and improve air quality. One study found that rooms exposed to sunlight had about half the bacteria that dark rooms did. So, if you or someone in your household has been sick lately, open the blinds and let one of nature's most potent cleaning agents inside.
You can also add air purifiers to your home to further reduce the amount of airborne particles like dust and pet dander. I like the Levoit air purifier as a budget choice that can make a difference.
How to enjoy the sun safely
Sunlight can benefit your health in several ways, like boosting your vitamin D production, easing skin condition flare-ups and boosting your moods. However, there is a thing as getting too much sunlight, especially during the summer when temperatures are high.
According to the FDA, the sun's UV rays are the most powerful, which means you're most vulnerable to sunburn between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. You'll want to avoid sunburns as much as possible because they increase your lifetime risk of developing skin cancer.
Keep these sun safety tips in mind:
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'Weekend warrior' workouts may reduce risk of death in diabetics
'Weekend warrior' workouts may reduce risk of death in diabetics

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

'Weekend warrior' workouts may reduce risk of death in diabetics

A "weekend warrior" exercise schedule can lower diabetics' risk of early death, a new study says. People with diabetes who get all their recommended weekly exercise in one or two sessions -- the "weekend warrior" approach -- were 21% less likely to die early from any cause than their counterparts who don't work out, researchers reported Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. They also were 33% less likely to die from heart disease, results show. "These findings reinforce the importance of flexible physical activity patterns for people with diabetes as they can improve insulin sensitivity and glycemic control -- especially for those who face barriers to maintaining regularly routine exercise," concluded the research team led by Zhiyuan Wu, a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. Exercise guidelines recommend that people get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity every week to maintain their health, researchers said in background notes. Moderate activity can include brisk walking, slow bicycling, active yoga, ballroom dancing and general yard work. However, it's not always easy to find time to work out, researchers said. "Many people struggle to engage in regular physical activity throughout the week due to time constraints," researchers said. "To overcome this, some condense their recommended (physical activity) into one or two weekly sessions -- a pattern known as the 'weekend warrior' approach." For this study, researchers analyzed data gathered from nearly 52,000 people with diabetes between 1997 and 2018 as part of the National Health Interview Survey conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The survey included questions on people's exercise patterns. Researchers compared that to 2019 death certificate data, to see whether physical activity made a difference. Not only did "weekend warrior" workouts reduce risk of premature death, they actually appeared to be more effective than regular exercise spaced out three or more times across a week, the team found. Folks with diabetes who met exercise guidelines with three or more shorter workouts weekly had a 17% lower risk of death from any cause and 19% lower risk of heart-related death, compared with those who don't work out, results show. However, researchers noted that the observational study couldn't draw a direct cause-and-effect link between exercise and lower risk of death. Future studies should more comprehensively track people's daily physical activity, including the exercise they might get as a part of their work or commute, researchers said. More information Harvard Medical School has more on the importance of exercise for diabetics. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

The number of measles cases in Manitoba this year has risen to 158, raising concern
The number of measles cases in Manitoba this year has risen to 158, raising concern

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

The number of measles cases in Manitoba this year has risen to 158, raising concern

Manitoba confirmed 12 more measles cases in its weekly update posted online Wednesday, with the total number of confirmed cases now up to 158 from 146 the previous week. Those numbers are up-to-date as of July 19, the province said. Manitoba also reported an additional probable case of the illness in its most recent update, in addition to eight other probable cases earlier this year — four in April and four in June. The number of cases spiked in May, with 72 reported that month. So far in July, the province has recorded 39 confirmed cases and one probable case. A provincial spokesperson said last week there had been seven measles cases in Manitoba that required hospitalization this year as of July 5. One person required admission to the intensive care unit, the spokesperson said in an email on July 17. Winnipeg epidemiologist Cynthia Carr said the latest numbers are "a growing concern." "We're certainly not seeing any kind of a decline that would make us comfortable," Carr said, noting how contagious the virus is to anyone not protected by vaccination or previous exposure. Dr. Santina Lee, a medical officer of health with Manitoba Health, said the number of reported cases is likely lower than the actual number of infections. WATCH | Family doctor says measles outbreaks in Canada are entirely preventable: "That's not something unique to Manitoba. We are hearing a similar situation in other provinces across Canada," Lee said. Canada achieved measles elimination status in 1998, but imported cases have resulted in outbreaks that started in New Brunswick in October. As of July 12, there have been a total of 3,977 measles cases — 3,665 confirmed and 312 probable — across 10 jurisdictions in Canada this year, according to the latest data from Health Canada. The highly infectious disease spreads through droplets formed in the air when someone coughs, sneezes or talks. Even a few minutes in the same space as a sick person poses infection risks, as the virus can linger on surfaces for two hours after an infected person leaves. Symptoms of measles generally appear seven to 21 days after exposure, and may include a fever, runny nose, drowsiness and red eyes, Manitoba Health said. Small white spots can also appear on the inside of the mouth or throat. LISTEN | People need to be vigilant about the measles outbreak: Dr. Lee said common complications from measles include breathing difficulties and, while more rare, brain swelling. Complications can also include ear infections and have an impact on vision and hearing. The people most at-risk are kids under the age of five, pregnant women and the immunocompromised. Epidemiologist Carr said she's seen similar complications firsthand — as a child, she experienced brain swelling when she developed meningitis. "I lost a significant portion of my hearing," Carr said. "It can lead to things from which you cannot recover." Measles screening Earlier this week, a spokesperson for Shared Health said active measles screening started this month at Health Sciences Centre Children's Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), ambulatory care clinics and Women's Hospital to minimize the risk of an outbreak. The screenings, which are done in separate areas or through an intercom, were implemented to ensure patients and families stay safe as measles cases spread, the spokesperson said in a July 21 email. Screening includes questions about possible symptoms and if the visitors have a rash. Patients with appointments at the ambulatory care clinic who have the measles or have been exposed to the virus and feel sick should call the clinic about their appointment before going, the spokesperson said. And if someone gets to a facility while showing symptoms of the measles, screening staff will consult with infectious disease physicians and infection control professionals to determine the appropriate next steps, the statement said. Immunization Immunization is the only way to protect people from contracting measles, the province said. A two-dose measles vaccine program for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) is routinely provided for kids who are at least one year old, with the second dose given between the ages of four to six in Manitoba. If a child is exposed to measles, the province said a second dose can be given earlier. Manitoba has expanded eligibility for vaccines to infants as young as six months old living in the Southern Health region and the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority area. The province also extended vaccine eligibility to start at six months for children who were evacuated from their communities because of wildfires and who may be staying in southern Manitoba, where there have been measles outbreaks. Epidemiologist Carr urged people to get vaccinated against the measles — and said the more it spreads, the more dangerous it can get. "The more we give that virus more bodies to thrive in, the more that virus will have the opportunity to change," she said. "And then ... we could be in trouble."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store