Being in the sun has a bunch of drawbacks these days, mainly getting skin cancer. There are however many benefits to being the sunshine as well, as long as it is in moderation.
The sun produces Vitamin D in huge mega doses. High levels of vitamin D have been found to protect against several kinds of cancer, particularly those of the digestive system: mouth, throat, stomach, and colon. While many of us think we get plenty of vitamin D from milk or a multivitamin, it turns out that the best source is the sun. Its rays trigger your body to produce the nutrient, and a 10-20 minute stroll each day yields an abundant dose.
Great news for fish eaters, vitamin D can also be obtained through your diet. It is readily found in salmon, mackeral, herring, tuna and sardines. It is also found in fortified milk and dairy products along with vitamin supplements. SUn exposure however, is the best form of vitamin D we can have.
Always keep in mind that sun exposure is also known to create skin cancer, so be sensible about being out in the sun soaking up that Vitamin D. Because we need to minimize our exposure to harmful UV rays, especially during the suns peak time in the sky (usually between 10 am and 3 pm), you need to precaution with sunscreen, as well as limiting your time in the sun to about 10-20 minutes per day.
When applying sunscreen, keep in mind it does not work instantly, contrary to what most people believe. It takes sunscreen about 15-30 minutes to kick in, so make sure you apply it well in advance of taking in the sun.
