For many, summer is not a season to enjoy much but it is not correct. In fact the season can have a lot of helpful benefits on our lives. Sunlight helps to regulate almost all our bodily processes, as well as acting as psychological encouragement to improve our lifestyle.
Some of the benefits are listed below.
You are less likely to die of a heart attack in the summer than in the winter.
Higher levels of Vitamin D – which can only be synthesised by sunlight – are also thought to play a protective part in those who suffer heart attacks.
Ultraviolet light converts cholesterol to Vitamin D. Therefore, getting out in the sun is a good way to lower cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart diseas.
Research has also shown that sunlight plays a vital role in fighting many chronic illnesses. A deficiency of Vitamin D – essential for the absorption of calcium – is associated with diseases such as osteoporosis.
Quite a few studies have also shown that ovarian, breast and colon cancers are slowed by exposure to sun.
Rising temperatures and increased availability of summer fruits make it easier to fulfil the recommended quota of eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
Many summer berries such as blackcurrants and strawberries are high in Vitamin C and contain phytochemicals, whose antioxidant activity helps avert chronic diseases such as cancer.
They also boost the immune system and, because of their low calorie content, help with weight loss.
Controlled exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays can have a therapeutic effect on skin complaints such as acne, psoriasis and dermatitis.
The summer season is an excellent time to begin an exercise programme. Not only do summer clothes provide an incentive to get the body in shape, but the feel-good factor created by sunlight boosts our enthusiasm to begin a fitness regime.
The hot weather is also good for those suffering from arthritis. Many people feel more agile and in less pain during the summer.
Water is vital to thousands of chemical processes that take place in the body’s cells to enable it to function. These include promoting digestion, regulating body temperature, improving the health and vitality of our skin and flushing toxins from the body.
Doctors have found that temperature fluctuations in summer can account for increased rates of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
People’s eating habits are different in the summer and winter seasons. The types of foods, the total calories consumed and the timing of the meals all vary with the seasons. A good number people, including diabetics, tend to eat fresh fruit when they become available. This has an important effect on their insulin levels.
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