Wellness - Sunlight

“But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.” (Malachi 4:2) The sun is one of God’s amazing creations: a giant ball of hydrogen giving the earth its major source of energy. The sun gives us heat and light; it makes photosynthesis possible, and gives us beautiful displays like sunrises and aurora. The sun has a strong psychological role, completely aside from its physical health benefits.

In an age where the fear of cancer is always in our minds, sunlight is avoided to an extent which is unhealthy. When the sun hits our skin, a chemical in our skin absorbs some of the light and produces vitamin D.This is one of the only ways we get vitamin D; it rarely occurs naturally in food. Older people or people with certain disorders may need to take vitamin D supplements. This should be done with caution, as too much vitamin D can also harm the system.

Vitamin D is important for healthy bones. It regulates calcium and phosphorus in the blood and performs other tasks relating to bone formation and maintenance. Lack of Vitamin D can cause weaker bones and increase the risks of breakage. A study done at the University of California linked healthy vitamin D levels to lowered rates of certain types of cancer. (Edwards) Overexposure to sun can cause damage in the form of sunburns and suntans. Neither are good for the skin, and it is believed that only a few minutes outside a few times a week is enough for a healthy person to produce sufficient levels of Vitamin D. In northern climates during the winter, this may need to be daily. But it doesn’t have to be hours on a beach, or worse yet, in a tanning booth! Skin is very fragile, and we only get one. We need to protect it well.

Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a depressive and seasonal mood disorder. The shorter days and weaker sunlight of the winter months cause higher levels of melatonin in your body. Melatonin is the sleep hormone; melatonin levels naturally rise when it gets darker. This is why we sleep at night. Serotonin is the hormone of wakefulness and alertness. It naturally increases when you are exposed to bright light. So, in the winter months when there is less light, your serotonin levels tend to be lower, and your melatonin levels higher. The sun is more than just a placebo effect; the brightness of the sun actually triggers hormonal changes that tend to make you happier. In some cases, doctors prescribe light treatments instead of drugs to increase serotonin levels and give sufferers of SAD more energy and less depression. In the Bible, the sun was used as a symbol of righteousness, glory, and hope. Matthew 13:43 says, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” What does it mean to shine like the sun? Perhaps we will give happiness to others in the way the sun gives us happiness. Perhaps we will shine our light, God’s light, everywhere, enabling other people and other things to be what God meant them to be.