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The sun is essential for life, it really can’t get any clearer than that. Without it, this world would be a cold and dead place. Every species on the planet needs sunlight to survive and yet it also carries some health risk as well. Too much sunlight can cause a number of serious health threats and conditions. Because of these side effects, there has been a lot of talk about the importance of using sunscreen every day and staying out of the sun as much as possible. And yet this has given rise to other problems. The sun is essential for your health and wellbeing, and its many roles in the body are only just starting to be understood.
There are a number of health threats linked to sun exposure. Some of these threats are short term, such as heat stroke, sunburn and dehydration. These can be extremely uncomfortable and even dangerous in the moment. However, as long as you get out of the sun and receive treatment the effects should be short lived. The more dangerous health risk of sunlight is the cumulative damage that can result from overexposure. It can increase your risk of developing skin cancer and other related conditions. But this doesn’t mean that you need to avoid the sun completely, though a lot of people have tried to do so. In fact, using sunscreen all the time and avoiding the sunlight completely may be just as dangerous for your general health. And it will also prevent you from enjoying some of the great benefits that a little sunlight can offer.
Excess weight is one of the most prevalent problems in the modern western world. It can cause a variety of health problems and diseases and increase your general health risk. There is a growing and very profitable market out there offering weight loss solutions. And yet recent research suggests that sunlight may be the answer to your weight loss woes. Everyone has had the experience of gaining weight during the winter months. This is usually blamed on overeating and a more sedentary lifestyle. However, there’s now evidence that suggests that a lack of sunlight may be to blame.
A recent study examined the effect of sunlight on subcutaneous adipose tissue. These are the white fat cells which act as the primary fat store and also help to regulate metabolism. These are also the fat cells said to be responsible for disorders such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes. The study found that when exposed to visible sunlight, often called blue light, these cells actually shrank. A closer examination found that the liquid droplets in the cells shrank and moved out of the cells. Basically, that means that the cells themselves stored less fat than before.
This surprising new finding may indicate why so many people tend to gain weight in the winter months. Sunlight determines the body’s circadian rhythm, which is the pattern that determines your sleep and wake cycle. And the results of this study suggest that it may have a similar effect on your fat cells. The intensity of the sunlight may act to regulate the rhythm of the seasons through the fat cells. This means that it may determine when your body puts on weight to guard against the cold of winter. This idea may make sense, but it’s still unproven and there are also other reasons why people tend to gain weight in winter. People often eat more at this time of year, both in reaction to the cold and because of the holidays, so there’s more fat available to store. And according to these results, the lack of sunlight causes more of that fat to be stored.
So if you struggle with winter weight, it will help if you spend more time out in the sunlight. This will encourage your fat cells to shrink and give you more of the essential vitamins the sun provides.
If you’re concerned about your health risk, consider using HomeLab to keep track of your condition and any preventative measures you take. And if you see signs of a significant problem, you should check with your doctor as soon as possible.
Tags: Health risk, Sunlight
