Sunlight, Soil and Serotonin
As Florida residents, we’ve probably all felt the effects of losing track of time and staying out in the sun for far too long. It’s never fun to wake up the next morning to irritated, blistered skin and have to rearrange plans for the week to seek treatment instead. For some people, the issue can be so annoying that they become hesitant to step back into the sun at all. Instead of taking it from one extreme to the next, let's remember why soaking up the sun, especially in the early morning hours from 7am - 9am, can be one of the most beneficial things a person can do on their health journey.
Dr. Russell Reiter’s book, Melatonin, found that bright morning sunlight and bright light exposure throughout the day raises melatonin levels making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep later in the evening. Sun exposure plays a vital part in establishing our circadian rhythms, as blue light from the sun hits retinal cells in the eyes called melanopsin, who then send nerve signals to the hypothalamus region in the brain where the suprachiasmatic nucleus awaits, acting as the body’s master clock. Then another signal goes to the brain via the retinal ganglion eye cells which say ‘release serotonin!’ which your brain happily does.
Sunlight also provides vitamin D which supports bone and muscle health, regulates blood pressure, blood sugar and the immune system, assists in stable cognitive function and can even kill bacteria in sunlit rooms. It is recommended to get at the very least ten minutes of sun exposure a day to reap the benefits. And while you’re taking your morning stroll admiring all the plants and listening to the bird songs ring through the sky, making time to get your hands in the dirt can also come with amazing health benefits too!
Soil is full of this friendly bacterium called Mycobacterium vaccae, which can trigger the brain to release serotonin. Exposure to all of the diverse microbes can build up your immune system and lower your risk for developing allergies later in life, especially for small children. Soil can even fortify the skin’s protective barrier because of all the beneficial bacteria it contains, making it more difficult for harmful pathogens and infections to get through.
Remember that how you start your day impacts overall anxiety. So start with things that will work for your health instead of against it. Go outside, soak up the sun, and get your hands dirty!