Why Summer Is Good For Your Health
BY APRIL PASCARELLI
There is nothing quite like the feel of the summer sunshine wrapping you in a warm hug and the sun-kissed glow that comes with it. From longer, lighter days to garden-fresh meals to beach days and summer fun, there is tons to love about summer. If you have lived through enough New England winters, you know that longing feeling for sunshine. Yes, temps can creep up, there are stronger UV rays, and you might end up with a few bug bites...but there is just something about the summer. Even better, it is good for our health! From mental to physical health, there are boatloads of benefits that our bodies take in from May through September. Keep reading for five reasons why you should soak up the summer sun!
VITAMIN D
If you live up north, you or someone you know likely has had a run-in with a vitamin D deficiency - especially during the dark, cold winter months. Eating vitamin D-rich foods and supplementing will keep levels in check when shaded from sunshine. But from late spring into early fall, our bodies can soak up enough vitamin D directly from The Sun. It is a mega immune booster that may help reduce inflammation within the body (warding off the potential for disease) and helps to promote strong bones. So throw on a tank and shorts and get outside for 10-30 minutes three times per week. Don’t forget to generously apply a mineral sunscreen (needed to protect our skin from the harmful UV rays linked to sunburns and cancer). Though it can affect our ability to absorb vitamin D, studies conclude that if you slather it on and stay in The Sun longer, you should be all set with the sunshine drug.
WARMTH
As it turns out, climate and temperature do have an impact on our overall health. Breathing in the winter air can hurt our heart and respiratory system. And by making our body work harder to regulate heat within, blood pressure can potentially increase to unhealthy levels. Therefore, warmer temperatures are good for our lungs. Joints and joint pain may ease up in warmer weather, too. Is it that people are less active in the winter leading to stiff joints? Or they simply move more in the summer and loosen things up? Maybe those snowbirds that flee to Florida are on to something. And so are the yogis that trek off to hot yoga when the temperatures hit below zero. The heat can have us feeling incredibly limber. So, whatever the case, many will agree that their body and health never feel better than when in the warmth and sunshine.
DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY
Have you ever noticed how your mood shifts during the winter months? Leaving for work or school in the morning when it is still dark (not to mention cold) and returning home in the evening when it is frigid and dark again can be a real downer. A vitamin D deficiency can lead to a typically temporary bout of Seasonal Affective Disorder, otherwise (and appropriately) known as SAD. Once the summer months hit, we get a renewed sense of energy, physically and emotionally. The Sun signals our body to produce more serotonin and melatonin, neurotransmitters that act as natural antidepressants.
LONGER DAYS
In the Northern Hemisphere, the first day of summer is the longest day of the year. During the summer solstice, the Earth is tilted toward the Sun at its maximum during orbit. More than half of the day has sunlight! In the Boston area, this means more than 15 hours for us! Longer days means more time spent outside (which helps to boost those vitamin D levels) and more motivation to check off your to-do list (the warmth helps with this one, too)! It is easier to find time for more outdoor workouts (hooray for exercise), more yard work (which can even fall into that workout category) and so on. The point is that summer can give us a feel of days that last forever, boost our productivity, and is great for our mood! Being outside in nature is the perfect antidote for dealing with stress. It really does impact our overall wellbeing.
FRESH FOOD
Summertime is ideal for many favorite pastimes, one of which is gardening for many. There is something therapeutic about caring for plants. As a result, it may lower blood pressure. And it is perfect for those mood-boosting, positive vibes! Even better, you will (hopefully) have an abundance of fresh fruits and veggies! For those concerned with a lack of green thumb, that is 100% valid and understood. A simple crash course in gardening (and some starter plants) can help get you going. Check out a nearby Whole Foods or your local farmers market. Save money (hello, inflation!) and grow your own greens! Plus, you get to reap the satisfaction of when those plants do produce! And health goals can stay on track with a ready source of fresh food.
SO, WHAT DO WE KNOW?
We know that sunshine makes us happy, and the warmth makes our bodies feel good (and our lungs even better)! We have longer days for soaking in more vitamin D, playing outside in nature, working out, or doing yard work. And gardening can help reduce grocery bills and sustain healthy, fresh food in the summer months. What is there not to love about summer?! (Maybe besides those pesky mosquitoes!) So, slap on some (mineral-based) sunscreen and an (essential oil-based) bug spray, and get outdoors! After all, we only get so much time before Old Man Winter comes knocking on our door. (Too bad we can't store the sunshine for those days!) Get out there, live your best life this summer, and (responsibly) soak in as much as possible!