Sun is the source of life and energy on the earth. Our biological clock keeps on ticking with the movement of the Sun.
Everyone wants to wake up amid a beautiful sunny morning, needless to say, a cloudy day keeps us gloomy.
As the sun on the earth is important for every single life, sunlight is important for our health. It’s the only authentic source of vitamin D that keeps bones and muscles strong and flexible.
You might have read how UV rays of Sun have been harming the living world on the earth but never feeling the warmth of sunlight or never letting your body exposed to sunlight is not a good idea either.
The Importance of Sunbathing for the Human Body
The Sun is the most elementary source or you can say the reason for our very existence.
It’ll take tons of pages to describe and analyze the scientific perspective of exposing the human body to the sunlight, let’s not go into that complicated matter, rather understand why the exposure to the sun’s warmth important for the human body.
In simple terms, lying in the sun to tan the skin is called sunbathing. It’s also known as sunbath therapy. Sunbathing is one of the most ancient and natural ways of healing multiple health issues.
Contact to sunlight increases the rate of growth of certain metabolites in the human body. This means regular exposure to sunlight strengthens the body’s natural metabolism process.
The pineal gland of the human brain releases melatonin. This is an important hormone regulating the sleep-wake cycle of the brain or the circadian rhythm.
The production of melatonin in the brain is directly connected to the intensity of the sunlight.
Several research findings have proved that exposure to sunlight alleviates our mood, let us work faster in the office and at home than people who do not find anything interesting in sunbathing, keeps the eyes healthy, and heals several types of skin diseases.
Most importantly, a sunlight-deprived body develops a lesser quantity of vitamin D that has innumerable long-lasting adverse effects on the body.
There is no authentic natural supplement of vitamin D for the human body. Depriving yourself the warmth of the sun means endangering your health.
The Best Way to Take a Sunbath
There are three therapeutic parts in the sunlight, the infrared radiation that creates the heat, the UV radiation that penetrates the skin, and the visible light. You should follow a proven procedure to maximize the benefits of the sunbathing period.
Overexposure to the direct daylight may be harmful to some people in some parts of the world but zero or little exposure is harmful in other ways. It means you need to be disciplined in taking a sunbath and maximize the benefits out of this act.
Follow sunbathing chairs guide for buying the right chair for enjoying a sunbath in the most relaxed way.
There is no need to visit a sun-soaked beach to lie down under the sun, nor everyone can access a beach. You can do it at home or in a nearby park.
Keep in mind, don’t take a sunbath in strong sunlight. For maximum exposure, it’s better to be in your underwear or towel. Wrap a towel on your head or use a cap.
Select a comfortable open space where you can lie down or seat for half-an-hour undisturbed.
Initially, you may feel uncomfortable within 10-15 minutes. With time, you could stretch it to 20-30 minutes. 30 minutes of daily exposure is sufficient to reap the benefit of sunbathing.
In winter, you can lie down for 45-60 minutes also. In any case, it all depends on your comfort level.
The best time of taking a sunbath is in the morning from 8 AM to 11 AM or in the afternoon from 4 PM to 6 PM.
The intensity of sunrays remains within tolerable levels during these two periods. However, you can choose your time as per your convenience and weather conditions in your area.
The Bottom Line
Regular sunbathing keeps you healthy and energetic. You just need to keep in mind a few important aspects of it –
- Do as much as you can tolerate.
- Seat or lie down in a comfortable place where no one will disturb you.
- Drink plenty of water before sunbathing.
- Cover your head with a towel or at least wear a cap.
- Move away as you start sweating.
- Don’t drink water immediately after a sunbath.
- After taking a sunbath, take rest under a shadow or in your room for 5 minutes.
- If you have any medical issue consult your doctor before taking a regular sunbath.