Now, with us fast approaching the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere, and with it already heating up quite significantly here in the Middle East, I wanted to discuss the healing powers and qualities of the sun, and how you can benefit from it by including a little extra light in to your routine.
Sunlight is good for many things and it’s a lot more than just making people feel better by giving them a glow or a tan. One of the sun’s most important benefits is that it’s a great natural source of Vitamin D, which is vital for the human body to absorb calcium and promote bone growth.
But while Vitamin D’s primary role is to help your body absorb calcium and phosphorous from food, your immune system also needs Vitamin D to work well — and it has never been a more important time to boost your immune system than now. Research from multiple studies consistently show that Vitamin D deficiency is linked to increased autoimmune issues and a higher risk of developing infections. Sunlight helps build, and strengthen up your immune system, mainly because your white blood cells increase with sun exposure. These are the cells that play a major role in defending the body against infections.
Many cultures have recognised the potential healing powers of the light and the sun. The ancient Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, and other major cultures have made significant medical uses of light. The Ancient Greeks were the first to document both the theory and practice of solar therapy. Heliopolis, the Greek city of the sun, was famous for its healing temples, in which sunlight was broken up into its spectral components (colours), and each component was used for a specific medical problem. Colour, being a manifestation of light, held a therapeutic, as well as divine meaning for these historical cultures.
Throughout my life, I have consistently tried to encourage others to seek out any natural alternatives to what they’re looking for, and not to fall into the trip of being convinced that manufactured, pharmaceutical drugs or tablets are always the answer, as society has so unfortunately convinced so many people. Melanoma is often associated with sunlight, but the sun is actually beneficial in treating people who suffer from acne, eczema and fungal infections of the skin. Sunlight can also kill bacteria and heal skin wounds much faster, and in a more natural and healing way than anything you can buy off shelf.
In fact, a single exposure to sunlight lowers blood pressure for people who have high blood pressure, which is why I always encourage my older relatives to get at least 30 mins of sunlight a day, purely to absorb those healing qualities in a safe, and measured way.
The sun can also help with mental health. When people’s serotonin levels drop they are susceptible to depression and feeling sad. Getting an adequate amount of sunlight actually reverses the issue and brightens people’s moods — something I’m sure everyone has experienced before.
Mushrooms are one of the only plant sources that contain a significant amount of Vitamin D, but they can in no way replace the healing qualities of actual sunlight.
If you eat a vegan diet, getting enough vitamin D can be challenging, but there are ways to increase your intake that do not involve animal sources. For most people, 10 to 30 minutes three times a week is sufficient — add this in to the vegan plan I outlined last week, drink plenty of water to flush out toxins — and step by step, you are moving forward with your vegan journey. Keep safe everyone, and as always – reach out to me via Instagram should you have any questions!
* The author is an expert in vegan wellbeing and health. Instagram handle: @Ghanim92
