As spring arrives and the weather warms, exposure to sunlight can have a major impact on your overall health.
Dr. Roger Sehert, a critical care physician, respiratory surgeon and associate clinical professor at the University of California and Loma Linda University School of Medicine, shared the benefits of exposure to sunlight in an interview with Fox News Digital.
Sehert, who recently appeared on Dr. Andrew Hooverman Labs on podcast, discussing strengthening the immune system, pointed out that light from the sun enhances the ability to regulate sleep, circadian rhythms and mood.
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“So many people have seasonal affective disorders, which is a sign of the lack of sunlight during the winter,” he said.
Children with tuberculosis were placed in outdoor solariums in 1946 for a period of rest. The sanitarium housed 200 patients, ranging from infants to 20 years of age. (Arami)
The healing properties of sunlight
Until the 1920s, medical professionals used mild exposure to promote healing.
According to Seheult, the hospital used Sundeck.
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However, since then, with the development of pencillin and other advances in modern medicine, doctors have not relied on the overall method, he said.
The sun's ultraviolet B (UV-B) light produces vitamin D in the body by causing a chemical reaction in the skin, says Seheult.
Sunlight can enhance the body's ability to regulate sleep, circadian rhythms, and mood. (istock)
According to Mayo Clinic, Vitamin D is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that supports immune health, muscle and brain function.
The sun has also been shown to produce infrared rays and relieve pain and inflammation.
According to Seheult, exposure to just 15-20 minutes of sunlight can boost your immune system and even avoid chronic illness.
Balance of risk and benefits
The sunlight warning that leads to skin cancer may have caused a reduction in exposure, doctors suggested.
“It's true, if we go outside in the sun for a period of time without protection, we can get that kind of skin damage,” he said.
“If it's done moderately and done wisely, there are several benefits to getting out into the sun.”
However, doctors have found that several recent studies have found that the more time you spend outside in the sunlight, the less likely you are to die from all causes, including cancer.
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Dr. Richard Weller, a professor of dermatology at the University of Edinburgh, published an article in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology in August 2024, discussing this data and the need to rethink the impact of the sun.
“UVR is a skin carcinogen, but no studies link sunlight exposure to increased all-cause mortality,” Weller wrote in his research summary.
Walking through the green spaces allows trees, leaves and plants to “reflect on infrared” and provide even lighter exposure. (istock)
“Growth evidence shows that sunlight offers health benefits through vitamin D-independent pathways, such as photomotorization of nitric oxide from skin storage fluids with reduced skin morbidity. Sunlight has important systemic health benefits and risks.”
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Seheult agreed, “We encouraged people to rethink the idea that the sun is a deadly laser and that if it actually was done wisely if done in moderation, there are several benefits to getting out into the sun.
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Those who are thin or sensitive to sunlight can benefit while wearing clothes, hats and other protective gear.
“Infrared is a long-wavelength, low-energy light that allows it to penetrate not only through the skin but deep into the body, but also very easily through clothing,” Seheult pointed out.
Vitamin D from sunlight acts as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, helping to support immune health, muscle and brain function. (istock)
“If they're still out, they'll get a lot of infrared even in that setting and won't affect what they're getting. [burned]. So you don't need to have naked skin to be exposed to sunlight. ”
According to Seheult, sunlight is also present in cloudy and rainy days and urban areas.
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“The amount of light in the building [is] Usually it's under 100 lux,” he said. “When you go outside on a bright, sunny day, it's 100,000 lux. It's 1,000 times brighter.”
That exposure decreases on cloudy days and winters, but is not as “almost low” as indoor lighting.
“The kids are spending more time,” Sehard said. “All the kind of movements we make to get out is very beneficial.” (istock)
To enjoy the benefits of infrared without risk, Seheult recommends going outside for about 30 minutes, even in the morning or evening, while the sun is set.
“These are when you have a lot more infrared light than you can get inside your home,” he said.
“What we need is about 15-20 minutes of infrared exposure, and we see an effect that lasts for days.”
For those working in the office and spending the day, Seharto suggested taking a short break and going outside in the lights and green spaces.
“All you need is about 15-20 minutes of infrared exposure at mitochondrial levels, and it will last for days,” he said.
A blend of holistic and contemporary methods
Seheult shared hopes of balancing modern medicine, including advances in medical grade oxygen and antibiotics, with modern medicine, including trends in overall health.
“There is definitely a modern invention and something very beneficial to the human body,” he said. “What I want to do is incorporate both.”
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“There is a disadvantage to relying on what you need and need a supply chain, especially during a pandemic,” he said.
“Sunlight and fresh air are not dependent on the supply chain. Sunlight is accessible on most days of the year.”
