Walking in Sunshine: The Benefits of Pure, Unadulterated Sunlight

May 12th, 2015 by Peterson

Posted in Uncategorized

It’s finally May, and time to get outdoors again. I love being outdoors, but increasingly I find my friends and family resist the idea of unplugging from their devices and venturing out into nature. I recently went on a short hike with some friends, and everyone looked like pale, sickly vampires, squinting into the sun. They spent most of the hike fantasizing about the reward at the end of the hike, namely a cold beer in an air-conditioned venue. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

But, really folks, we all need sunshine. Yes, sunscreen is good and skin cancer is bad, but honestly, you need a few minutes of unfiltered exposure to the sun to get the proper amount of vitamin D. According to SunshineVitamin.org, “Sun exposure to the skin is the human race’s natural, intended, most effective and most neglected source of vitamin D.”

What does vitamin D do for you? It boosts serotonin, cures Seasonal Affective Disorder, improves your response to stress, fights cancer, and makes you sleep better. Any other questions?

So here’s the thing. You don’t have to go backpacking in the Sierra’s to reap the benefits of sunshine. You can do some gardening, take a walk, even sit in the backyard and sip some lemonade. But here’s another idea. This is the time of year when all sorts of events take place outdoors, and I’m not talking about weddings. I’m talking motorcycle racing, music festivals, art walks, air shows, farmer’s markets, hot air balloon festivals, county fairs, and let’s not forget the much-maligned Renaissance Faire. Turkey leg, anyone?

(Speaking of motorcycle racing, for me, there’s nothing like flat track. I recently attended an IV League Flat Track event in Del Mar, sponsored by Visual Impact Promotions, that was outstanding. It may not have been sunny, but at least people were unplugged!)

So get outside, people! You’ve got nothing to lose but the blues.