June 17th, 2021 | Updated on January 23rd, 2023
Summer is an excellent opportunity for people to spend more time outside. On average, Americans spend 87 percent of their lives in their homes or buildings and 6 percent inside their cars or transportation. This means you may only spend 7 percent of your life outdoors and the rest inside.
Most of the time spent outdoors is during summer when people spend a lot more time in the sun. Throughout the summer season, you may spend an average of 1 to 2 hours a day and 5 to 6 hours a day on vacation. Summer is the perfect weather for outdoor activities.
The sunny skies also present health benefits. When you go outside and soak in the sun’s rays, your body produces serotonin that can help boost your mood.
Exposure to natural sunlight can also help you sleep better at night. However, too much exposure to sunlight has potentially harmful effects.
Going outside in the heat of the day leaves you exposed to direct sunlight that can cause sunburn. Prolonged exposure can cause adverse health conditions such as premature aging, cataracts, and skin cancer. When you go outside during this period, it is crucial to protect yourself in ways including:
1. Wear SPF
Sunscreens protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation and sunburn. Not all sunscreens are the same, and their sunlight protection is indicated by the sun protection factor (SPF) printed on the product label.
People should wear ample SPF sunscreen all the time, not just when at the pool, to protect from the sun’s harmful rays. Many face moisturizers have SPF but always check their levels to ensure adequate protection.
Experts recommend 30 SPF, which blocks 97 percent of the Ultraviolet B rays (UVB). Also, don’t forget to reapply once in a while. You can use waterproof sunscreens for better results.
2. Wear Sunglasses
Ultraviolet radiation from the sun can increase the risk of cataracts and other eye damage. Proper eye protection can reduce these risks.
Sunglasses can add style to your look while offering protection for your eyes. However, you should look for glasses, sunglasses, or contact lenses with 99 to 100 percent UV protection to be effective.
3. Vitamin D Gummies
Sunlight stimulates the production of Vitamin D, an essential vitamin for the body. Vitamin D helps increase phosphorus and calcium absorption from food and plays a critical part in skeletal development, blood cell formation, and immune function.
It is recommended that individuals receive 5 to 15 minutes of sun exposure 2 to 3 times a week during the summer months.
This is to ensure a sufficient supply of vitamin D. However, individuals can also take a vitamin D gummy to get some of the benefits without having to lay out in the sun for hours.
4. Avoid Peak UV Times
In recent decades, ozone layer depletion has decreased the earth’s natural protection from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation. UV usually starts to climb near the middle of the day between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
If you cannot avoid going outside during this period, make sure to cover up to protect yourself from UV radiation. If exercising or spending time outdoors, it is best to go in the early morning or later in the afternoon.
5. Protect Your Hair
Too much sunlight can dry out your hair and cause damage. Even the scalp is vulnerable to sunburn and should be protected. The best way to protect your hair and scalp from harmful UV rays is by wearing a hat.
You can also apply sunscreen to exposed parts of your scalp and hair, but don’t forget to reapply after one or two hours. You can use leave-in treatments with UV protection to mitigate damage and use a moisturizing shampoo to rehydrate your hair after prolonged sun exposure.
6. Stay Hydrated
During summer, you spend more time in the sun, leading to dehydration. On average, a person needs at least 30 to 50 ounces of water a day to stay healthy. Water makes up 50 to 70 percent of your body and depends on it to survive.
Lack of water can cause dehydration and can cause severe health risks. Eat fruits and vegetables that have high water contents, such as watermelon and spinach and always carry a water bottle with you.
Have Safe Fun in the Sun
The warm summer months are an excellent time to relax and enjoy outdoor activities. However, it is also the time when the risk of too much sun exposure is heightened.
Make sure to protect yourself from the potentially harmful UV rays and drink plenty of water to make the most of this season.
How To Soak Up The Sun #sun #health pic.twitter.com/Lg3wYjbjMV
— Newszii (@NewsziiMedia) August 20, 2021
Health Disclaimer :
Information provided by Newszii.com does in no way substitute for qualified medical opinion. Any text, videos or any other material provided by us should be considered as generic information only. Any health related information may vary from person to person, hence we advice you to consult specialists for more information.
