The Benefits of Sunlight part one

By: Cindy Williams, RN

Coordinator, Health Ministries

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep...Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light...God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night...Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also." Genesis 1:1-5, 14-18

I find it interesting that God created light, day, and night before He created the sun, moon, and stars. I think of day and night based on the rising and setting of the sun. I wonder what the light created on day one was like. On day four, God created lights that rule the day and night, clearly marking the transition from darkness to light, night, and day. Is there a connection between this daily cycle of darkness and light and our health?

In this article, and the next, I am going to look at the benefits of sunlight. I think all of us recognize that we feel better on bright sunny days and get a little down when we have day after day of gloomy, cloudy skies. But the benefits are far beyond this!

Energy from the sun comes in a full spectrum of energy waves. 7% of the energy is in the ultraviolet range, 39% visible light, and 54% infrared. Each area of the spectrum is important to our health in different ways.

The benefit that most people think of from sunlight is the synthesis of vitamin D from sunlight hitting our skin. This comes from UVB rays in the ultraviolet range. UVA is what causes skin damage from sunburn. Most sunscreens are broad spectrum and block both UVA and UVB. This means that we can become deficient in vitamin D if we are never outside in the sunshine without sunscreen. We need to have a minimum of 5 – 15 minutes each day on bare skin to make an adequate amount of vitamin D. During fall and winter in the north the sun does not hit our skin at the correct angle to stimulate vitamin D synthesis. Those of us who live here should have vitamin D levels checked and supplement if levels fall below 30µg/ml.

Here is a diagram of a cell. You may remember that mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, producing ATP. In the process, they generate “heat” which is known as free radicals or oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress causes inflammation, cancer, dementia, diabetes, and learning disabilities, among others. In an engine, this type of heat is dissipated by the engine coolant system, the radiator, etc. Our body uses antioxidants to “cool” the free radicals and reduce oxidative stress.

Stay tuned for information about a very powerful antioxidant and two amazing coolant systems that God put within us which use the solar spectrum to function.