Sunlight
Maybe it's the fact that I haven't seen nearly enough of it lately or maybe it's because I got a Livestrong newsletter today (that I repeatedly mark as spam....you all KNOW that I think Lance Armstrong is hella annoying and brings out my violent tendencies) discussing the dangers of sun exposure, but this deserves its own post. I'm not going to get all scientific mostly because I'm lazy and don't want to direct quote and footnote this ish...and since this is my blog and not a term paper - I DON'T have to!!!
In my totally unscientific opinion, a greater danger is that we do not get nearly enough sun! Most of us (myself excluded for the moment, but please see the aforementioned weather comment) spend 40 + hours a week inside working, another approximately 60 hours a week sleeping which between eating, indoor activities, weather complications, and limited daylight hours very little time to be outdoors enjoying the sun's rays.
I find that the more time I spend outside the happier and in my opinion, healthier I am. There is something very important about real light (as opposed to flourecents...and not just that it makes you look better) to the point where if I am sick or upset I really think it cures me. It is a stress reliever, an energizer, and an aphrodisiac all rolled into one. I mean, is it so nuts to think that if the sun and water can provide a plant with everything it needs to be healthy that it wouldn't do something amazing for us as well (although I do have yet to complete photosynthesis - I'll post back if I do).
So as summer approaches, let us not fear the sun...let us expose ourselves to it gradually and often so that it doesn't burn us. There is a reason that people exposed to the sun regularly in dessert or tropical climates are darker and I'd hazard a guess they have a lower skin cancer level than us Americans do with our sunscreen, protective clothing, and huge hats exposing ourselves for long periods of time rather irregularly. Maybe it is more because we avoid the sun like little gremlins for 90 % of the year to go on vacations and then we're suprised that we're burned and have created sun damage. So I guess my message is respect the sun but do not fear the sun!
In my totally unscientific opinion, a greater danger is that we do not get nearly enough sun! Most of us (myself excluded for the moment, but please see the aforementioned weather comment) spend 40 + hours a week inside working, another approximately 60 hours a week sleeping which between eating, indoor activities, weather complications, and limited daylight hours very little time to be outdoors enjoying the sun's rays.
I find that the more time I spend outside the happier and in my opinion, healthier I am. There is something very important about real light (as opposed to flourecents...and not just that it makes you look better) to the point where if I am sick or upset I really think it cures me. It is a stress reliever, an energizer, and an aphrodisiac all rolled into one. I mean, is it so nuts to think that if the sun and water can provide a plant with everything it needs to be healthy that it wouldn't do something amazing for us as well (although I do have yet to complete photosynthesis - I'll post back if I do).
So as summer approaches, let us not fear the sun...let us expose ourselves to it gradually and often so that it doesn't burn us. There is a reason that people exposed to the sun regularly in dessert or tropical climates are darker and I'd hazard a guess they have a lower skin cancer level than us Americans do with our sunscreen, protective clothing, and huge hats exposing ourselves for long periods of time rather irregularly. Maybe it is more because we avoid the sun like little gremlins for 90 % of the year to go on vacations and then we're suprised that we're burned and have created sun damage. So I guess my message is respect the sun but do not fear the sun!
posted by pinkerbell619 at 8:26 AM
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