Do you ever notice how sometimes it just feels good to bask in the sun? Imagine laying on the beach and getting lost in a good book, or simply sitting on your porch soaking up the sun rays. What is it about sunlight that makes you feel lighter? (Pun intended.) The answer is that the sunlight has an impact on your mental health, and in this blog, we’re going to uncover that link.

Sunlight and Serotonin

When you think of the sun, what do you think about? There are many things that could come to mind. The sun:

• Lights up the earth
• Warms the earth
• Allows us to tell time
• Can cause sunburns
• Is pivotal to the growth of plants (hello, photosynthesis!)

The sun also provides plenty of  mood-lifting benefits. The sunlight (and the lack of sunlight during the night) trigger certain hormones in your brain. The daily cycles of lightness and darkness help to set your circadian rhythm. Sunlight triggers a specific hormone called serotonin. This hormone is known for elevating your mood, creating calmness, and increasing focus. But what about the darkness? As the light levels decrease throughout the day, the decrease in lighting triggers a different hormone: melatonin. This is the hormone that makes you feel sleepy at the end of the day.

Being exposed to both the light of day and the dark of night helps to set your circadian rhythm. However, if you don’t get enough sun exposure, you could miss out on the boost in serotonin levels from the sun. Low levels of serotonin are associated with a higher risk of seasonal affective disorder. You can learn more about seasonal affective disorder here.

How Sunlight Triggers Serotonin Production

Health Benefits of Sunshine

The sunshine benefits your whole body. Here are a few more ways that the sunshine can promote overall wellness:

Stronger Bones

You’ve probably heard that the sun gives you your daily dose of vitamin D. Specifically, it’s the exposure to the ultraviolet-B radiation that triggers your skin to produce vitamin D.

Without enough vitamin D, you have an increased risk of developing rickets, osteoporosis,  or osteomalacia.

Reduced Risk of Certain Cancers

It’s no secret that excessive UV exposure can increase your risk of skin cancer, but the right amount of sunlight can actually reduce your risk of other cancers. According to information published in an article called “Vitamin D and Sunlight: Strategies for Cancer Prevention and Other Health Benefits”, individuals who live in low sunlight areas are more likely to experience certain types of cancer, including prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colon cancer. Interestingly, the article notes that the connection between lack of sunshine and certain cancer was reported as early as 1915!

Healing Certain Skin Conditions

Light therapy, specifically therapy with UV radiation, has been reported by  the World Health Organization (WHO) to treat certain skin conditions, including eczema, acne, jaundice, and psoriasis. Some pediatricians even advise parents to let babies soak up sunshine if they are born with mild cases of jaundice.

Improved Sleep

Because the sunlight helps to set your circadian rhythm, getting sunlight in the morning can actually help you sleep better at night. This can help improve your mood, boost mental clarity, and support your immune system.

When the Sun Isn’t Enough

While sunlight supports your mental and physical wellness, sometimes it’s not enough to boost your mood. Depression can have many contributing factors beyond sunlight.