The Health Benefits Just Outside Your Door...

Sunlight certainly feels nice… but who knew it could be so healthy? We explore the mental and physical benefits of simply stepping outside!

This article reveals

• The effect sunlight has on our mental health
• The relationship between sunlight and our immune system
• The amazing potential benefits of greenspace
• The Japanese therapy that puts us in touch with powerful antibacterial properties
• Effective seasonal allergy relief to make sure we can all experience these outdoor benefits
  

Being outside on a nice day simply feels good!

The sunshine on our faces, the grass beneath our feet… it can’t help but put a smile on your face.

As it turns out, the sunlight may do more than just bring us joy. In fact, it may also have a hand in really boosting our health.

Sunlight has the ability to improve your mood!

Photo by Kirschner Amao on Unsplash

Sunlight may just give us the vital morale boost we’ve all been craving!

If you are able to step outside into the sunlight, we implore you to do so.

Exposing ourselves to sunlight is believed to increase the brain’s production and release of the hormone serotonin. This hormone boosts our ability to focus and lifts our overall mood!

This is also believed to be one of the contributors to the phenomena of seasonal depression. In months with less sunlight, we are more likely to experience lower moods.

Sunlight may also have a hand in boosting your immune system.

Have you considered how advantageous sunlight can be for your body’s defense system?

When your body is exposed to sunlight, it doesn’t just produce serotonin, it also starts producing vitamin D, appropriately nicknamed “the sunshine vitamin!”

Traditionally the role of vitamin D was to boost bone health. But a manuscript published in the US National Library of Medicine, discusses vitamin D’s relationship to immunity.

They came to this conclusion:

“Vitamin D has important functions beyond those of calcium and bone homeostasis which include modulation of the innate and adaptive immune responses. Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in autoimmune disease. Cells of the immune system are capable of synthesizing and responding to vitamin D. Immune cells in autoimmune diseases are responsive to the ameliorative effects of vitamin D suggesting that the beneficial effects of supplementing vitamin D deficient individuals with autoimmune disease may extend beyond effects on bone and calcium homeostasis.”

It’s not just the sunshine that can help… it could be greenspace.

Photo by Mike Benna on Unsplash

While sunlight plays a big role in how beneficial being outside is, it can’t take all of the credit.

In 2018, the University of East Anglia published findings claiming that:

“Populations with higher levels of greenspace exposure are also more likely to report good overall health -- according to global data involving more than 290 million people.”

The team defined the term greenspace as:

“... open, undeveloped land with natural vegetation as well as urban greenspaces, which included urban parks and street greenery.”

Overall, their findings concluded that exposure to greenspace reduces the risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, preterm birth, stress, and high blood pressure.

While they do not yet know exactly why this exposure is responsible for these results, there are several theories. Perhaps the most interesting one being that those who spend more time outside are exposing their immune system to a more diverse group of natural bacteria, which could benefit the immune system and reduce inflammation.

This is supported by work being done in Japan. Shirin yoku, also known as forest bathing has been a popular therapy for many years. Much of their research suggests that phytoncides may be the key to its effectiveness. Phytoncides are organic compounds released naturally by trees that contain many powerful antibacterial properties. By exposing ourselves to these compounds, we are likely boosting our health!

For some of us, it’s not as easy as just stepping outside the door.

Many of us suffer from seasonal allergies, so spending time outside to boost our health can feel counter intuitive. With the pollen count rising, it’s easy to feel that spending time outside could do you more harm than good.

While we highly encourage spending time outdoors, it’s also important to make sure that your body is properly equipped for it.

Soothe a sore throat!

This all-natural formula:

• SOOTHES AN IRRITATED THROAT Buckwheat honey and ivy leaf combine to provide the throat and bronchial passages with long-lasting comfort!

• HELPS YOU BREATHE FREELY AND EASILY Our medley of mullein and thyme promote normal respiratory function and support the mucus membranes in the respiratory tract!

• CAN BE USED ANYTIME Neither sedative nor stimulating, this product can be used whenever your throat is feeling sore.

Whether it’s the middle of the night or the middle of the day, help soothe your sore throat with our Throat & Bronchial Syrup™!

Dry a runny nose!

Stop wasting tissues and relieve your inflamed, runny sinuses with the help of Adult Sinus Support™!

• DRY A RUNNY NOSE By addressing inflamed sinus passages, we help your body stop producing too much mucus!

• BREATHE EASY We help to clear the respiratory passages by soothing the mucus membranes in the sinus and the lungs!

• STAY HEALTHY By nourishing the stressed parts of your body, we free your immune system to do what it does best… keep you safe!

Keep your nose dry and your throat clear with Adult Sinus Support™!