Why spend time outdoors in winter?

Do you spend time outdoors in the winter? You should, and the reason here isn’t vitamin D!

In France and other countries, it’s the season when the sun is low in the sky. Because of the angle the sun makes with the earth, vitamin D production by the skin minimal.

As of February 19 and for only 45 minutes on that day (according to the Dminder *app), you’ll be able to start building up your reserves again until next autumn.

At our latitude the UVB rays that enable you to make vitamin D, don’t touch the earth except high in the mountains.

(*Dminder app: I recommend you get it on your phone. It tells you according to your location when you can make vitamin D.)

You don’t need to worry if you’ve built your reserves since last spring. Your body can stock up on fat soluble vitamins like vitamin D to use as needed.

So why spend time in the sun in winter if it’s not to make vitamin D?

Because the sun gives us so much more than vitamin D. Infrared rays, UVA and natural blue light, have positive effects on your health. UVB rays are not present during 4 months of the year, so I won’t be talking about them here.

Infrared light have only positive effects and appear in the sky right after sunrise. They are present all day long until sunset.

UVA rays also have positive effect even though their negative effects are mainly talked about.

One sunny winter day sitting on a bench in the Saint Germain-en-Laye park, I was taking in the warm sun on my face and absorbing its wavelengths. I had just learned about all the benefits for my health.
Then a lady came along and said: “Taking in the good vitamin D?”
I smiled, not saying anything as I didn’t want to disrupt this exquisite moment, just the sun and me. I thought to myself: “Well not really, it’s not the season, but there are many other reasons to be in the sun.”

So why go in the sun in the winter, or rather expose yourself to natural sunlight outside? The sun doesn’t need to shine. Just being in the light even under a cloudy sky, in the rain, fog or snow gives you the benefits of the sun’s rays.

Infrared light present all day between sunrise and sunset

Is beneficial for your skin. It stimulates collagen production and reduces the signs of ageing. It doesn’t just stay on the surface and can penetrate deep in the muscles, bones, joints and soft tissue where they can regenerate and repair your cells.
Increases your energy by making your mitochondria more efficient. These energy factories in your cells use glucose from your food as fuel to make energy. Now we also know from recent studies, that they also use light to create energy.
Has an anti-inflammatory effect that has been largely studied. Think about it if your joints are hurting, your head aches or your gut is inflamed.
Stimulates blood circulation, accelerates wound healing and is good for eye health.
Protects against the toxic effect of excessive artificial blue light from our screens and new LED bulbs.
Stimulates the production of cellular melatonin, a major antioxidant produced by your body.

UVA rays that appear about 2 hours after sunrise, have many positive effects despite the fact that their negative effects are what is talked about. They

Promote the release of dopamine and serotonin, our happy hormones.
Help produce nitric oxide that dilates blood vessels, increase blood flow, reduce blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
Have an effect on adrenal and sex hormone balance.
Help you lose weight by increasing fat burning for energy production.
Stimulate your skin to produce melanin, the pigment that gives you your beautiful tan and acts as your natural sunscreen.

You see, UVA rays have many positive sides. And as for the skin ageing effect that is widely mentioned in the sunscreen cream industry, infrared wave lengths come to the rescue to repair and regenerate your cells.

It’s all a question of balance.

The secret is to also get that early morning sun rich in infrared rays before UVA comes on board 2 hours after sunrise. At that time you benefit from infrared, all alone before UVA and UVB come on the scene.

When you’re told to avoid the sun and put on sunscreen and sunglasses to protect yourself, they haven’t told you the whole story.

The sun is essential and you needn’t be afraid. You may be thinking, yes but what about melanoma? Well, it seems it’s less due to the sun than to exposure to excessive artificial lighting without being balanced by the other protective wavelengths of the sun. There are other reasons also not linked directly to the sun.

The good news is that the sun doesn’t need to be visible in a cloudless clear blue sky. All you need is to go outside and be in the light emitted by the sun even if it’s rainy, foggy, or snowing.

The light from the sun has another fundamental role: to regulate your circadian rhythm. As the day moves on from sunrise, the intensity of blue light varies and that sends signals to your hypothalamus (via the melanopsin receptors behind your eyes), that tells your body what tasks it needs to take on at a specific moment.

I’ll talk about that in another article.

If in the winter you don’t feel well, are depressed, sick and tired, don’t blame the season, rather look at the amount of time you spend indoors under artificial light.

To your fabulous health !

*****