Over 1 billion people worldwide suffer from Vitamin D deficiency. Since the weather is SO BEAUTIFUL today, I figured I'd give you a few reasons to go play outside!
1) A study published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found that people with lower levels of vitamin D are 10 times more likely to be depressed than those who have a healthy dose of the 'sunshine vitamin.'
2) A study published in the journal Diabetes found that exposure to UV rays can slow weight gain and ward off diabetes.
3) Most Americans spend 90 percent of their lives indoors!—you could be more likely to develop breast and prostate cancer, as well as cardiovascular disease. Last year, the Harvard School of Public Health found that men with vitamin D deficiencies caused by lack of sunlight were twice as likely to develop a heart condition. Some doctors recommend spending about 15 minutes a day in the sun without sunscreen to give your body a chance to create its daily dose of vitamin D.
4) What might be mistaken as arthritis or fibromyalgia (chronic muscle pain and fatigue) in adults could actually be a vitamin D deficiency due to a lack of sunlight. Adults who don't get enough sunshine often feel aches and pains in their muscles and bones, or they might feel a bit stiffer in the morning. Nutrients like calcium and collagen work together to build bones, but without a proper dose of vitamin D, the process is interrupted, and 'your bones can actually ache and throb.'
5) Avoiding daylight could be making you sicker. A healthy dose of vitamin D gives your immune system a boost, which decreases your chance of developing infections and the flu.
6) Research shows that spending an extended amount of time in artificial lighting or staring at electronic screens causes serious sleep problems. In fact, if you skimp on the sun's rays by staying indoors, you can throw off your circadian rhythm (your body's internal clock), which could mean you're not sleeping deeply enough, and may easily trigger insomnia.
7) Excessive sweating on your forehead, especially if you're not exercising or overheated, is one of the classic signs that you're not getting enough vitamin D. If your forehead has a little extra shine (even if your body temperature and activity level is normal), it might be time to ask your doctor about getting your blood checked for a vitamin D deficiency.
8) Even on a cloudy, chilly day, a small amount of exposure to UV rays can help you live longer and feel happier.
[MSN]
Had enough science for one day? Get outside and enjoy this beautiful weekend!