Did you know that sunlight is an important component of your health?

Despite all of the warnings of sun exposure and the harmful effects of the sun, the fact of the matter is the sun, taken in small quantities, is quite beneficial to our health.

Interestingly, the sun’s role in one’s health is not new. As far back as the 1920’s, the sun has been considered to play a vital role in the health of people.

When you stop and think about it, without the sun and the process of photosynthesis there would be no life on earth. In fact, some scientists will argue that the sun is responsible for the actual life force of healthy, organic, living foods. The life force being the measure of captured sunlight in any food.

But, beyond its role as the “life force”, the sun plays a very important role in the production of vitamin D. Vitamin D is referred to as the sunshine vitamin.

Through the interaction of the sun’s rays with a chemical in the skin, vitamin D is ultimately produced by the liver and kidney’s conversion of this chemical.

The functions of vitamin D include:

  1. Responsible for strong bones and teeth through the regulation of calcium and phosphorus.
  2. Assists in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the intestines.
  3. Helps to maintain healthy nerves and muscles.

Although vitamin D can be obtained from foods such as fish, egg yolk and milk, the sun is by far and away the best source.

Researchers have estimated that it would take approximately 10,000 to 25,000 units of supplemental vitamin D to equal the amount of vitamin D produced by the body after exposure to the sun that produced a mild redness. And, unlike other vitamins that are eliminated if not utilized, vitamin D is stored in fat cells for times when it is needed.

In addition to assisting in the production of vitamin D, the sun also appears to be the most desirable nutrient for the pineal gland.

The pineal gland is a pinecone shaped gland about the size of a pea that is located in the center of the brain. Sunlight entering the eyes nourishes the pineal gland, whose function is in the production of a hormone called melatonin.

Melatonin helps to regulate sleep cycles, slows aging, and assists the immune system. Therefore, the proper quantity and regular exposure to sunlight allows the pineal gland to function optimally.

Obviously, overexposure to sunlight can have very damaging effects. Skin cancer such as melanoma can be life threatening if you expose your skin to too much sun.