With summer on the horizon, everyone is looking forward to some fun in the sun. Living on the coast as we do in Seattle makes the summer sun even more enjoyable on the water. Sunshine offers many essential benefits for the body, but it’s important to be aware of the harm it can also inflict.
Pros:
One of the sun’s most notable benefits is the vitamin D that sunlight produces in the body. Vitamin D improves bone health and also the immune system. In technical terms, the sun’s ultraviolet B rays mix with a protein within the body to create vitamin D which is pretty incredible. The sun is also known to reduce high blood pressure or hypertension that could lead to heart attacks or strokes. An increase of sunlight is not only healthy for your physical health, but also your mental health. Sunlight can help reduce the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which is more prominent during the fall and winter seasons due to the lack of sunlight. Just standing in the sunlight for a few minutes can help reverse the effects of SAD.
Cons:
As much as the sun is overall good for you, it can also be very harmful short-term and long-term. Too much sunlight can damage the screen, creating a plethora of issues. The sun acts as a catalyst for fine lines and wrinkles, along with an increase of pigmentation and discoloration. Looking at the short-term list, a sunburn you may receive from your boat outing or beach trip is a sign of recent overexposure. Long-term overexposure, however, quickens premature aging and can cause skin cancer from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
These sun fun facts are not meant to deter you from that beach trip you’ve been planning, but make sure you are making smart choices when it comes to sun exposure and protecting your skin! And most important of all, drink lots of water while you’re out in the sun!