It is a beautiful summer in the Ogden Valley. Everyone is out enjoying one lovely, sunny day after another. What many people don't realize is that sunlight plays an important role in our health.

Yes, we have to be cautious not to overindulge, remember to use sunscreen, and cover up when outside. However, it is vital that we spend time outdoors, in the sun, everyday.

There are several physiological reasons why our bodies need sunlight. Sunlight helps with seratonin production. Seratonin is a brain chemical that helps us feel calm and serene. Low seratonin levels can result in depression, mood swings, aggression, increased appetite, and food cravings. Spending at least 1 hour day in the sun is a great way to boost your seratonin level. Other ways include: exercise, laughter, an attitude of gratitude, and spending time with people or pets you love and who love you.

Sunlight will help you sleep better. Our bodies operate on a sleep-wake cycle that is regulated partly by the brightness of our days and the darkness of our nights. The body chemical that is the primary player in our sleep cycle is melatonin. The presence and levels of melatonin in our body, triggers other chemicals that together contribute to a restful, healing nights sleep. In our body, the highest amount of melatonin is present at the darkest point of night, melatonin is shut off at the brightest point of the day and melatonin is present in small amounts during the transition times of dusk and dawn.

Unfortunately, many people spend much of the day indoors. Indoor light levels are closer in intensity to the light of dusk or dawn (low light) than the bright light of being outside in the sun. This steady low light is confusing to the brain. It interprets the low level of indoor light as dusk or dawn and so it keeps a small amount of melatonin active in the brain all the time. The ongoing presence of melatonin alters many of the other chemical functions in the body, resulting in poor sleep and other detrimental side effects. Exposing one's body to bright sunlight creates an obvious distinction in the brain between night and day. This distinction has the body shutting off melatonin production during the day, thus allowing it to peak at night when it needs to, resulting in a good nights sleep. It is important to spend the time outdoors without sunglasses on, since the eyes are the organs that send the message to the brain about light intensity.

Sunlight helps with vitamin D production. A recent study of middle-aged women revealed that 50% of them suffered from vitamin D deficiency. Our bodies make vitamin D using sunlight to convert precursor chemicals into usable vitamin D. Vitamin D is necessary for bone health, tissue healing and many other vital biological functions in the body. The recommended dosage for vitamin D is 200-400 IU per day. For the average Caucasian, living in the US, exposing the hands, face and arms for 15-20 minutes, 3 times/ week provides sufficient vitamin D, March through October. UV rays are less intense the rest of the year so be sure to go outdoors every day for at least 15 minutes, and you many need to take supplemental vitamin D or get vitamin D in food sources such as fish, eggs and fortified milk.

In conclusion, sunlight is necessary for our brain and body to function in a healthy and balanced way. Besides, being out in the sun is good therapy for the soul. So play in the sunlight everyday and be healthy, happy and fit!

Submitted by Lorrie Harper MSPT of Zenergy Pilates, Bodywork and Wellness. 

For more information about Lorrie and her work, please visit http://zenergywellness.com