Is the Sun Setting on Your Health and Beauty?

It’s that time of year again! It’s the time of year that the sun disappears earlier and earlier in the evenings, which means no sun-light after we get off of work.

What does that mean for your health and beauty?

Well, for starters- no sun light equals no tan. But mostly, the sun naturally produces vitamin D production in your body.

“Vitamin D is a key ingredient for beautiful looking skin. Skin, like all organs, needs vital vitamins to function properly—and vitamin D is one of them. Having sufficient vitamin D in the skin helps minimize acne, boost elasticity, stimulate collagen production, enhance radiance, and lessen lines and the appearance of dark spots, he says.” says Dennis Gross, M.D.

Also, the lack of vitamin D in your body causes the immune system to be more likely to contract viruses, such as the flu. It’s the increase of stress and the decrease of water and vitamin D that causes your immune system to be so weak.

The Vitamin D Council says, “Many studies that have been done about influenza have shown that people who have lower levels of vitamin D are more likely to get influenza. Some researchers recommend getting more vitamin D to protect against influenza.”

So, what can we do to help increase the levels of Vitamin D in our bodies to protect us against these viruses and at the same time help increase our beauty?

  1. Supplement vitamin D with nutritional supplements. Try to find a brand that is derived from food and not synthetic sources.
  2. Increase your sun intake:
    • Try to sit outside for any extended period of time that you can find.
    • Open your window shades and sit near the window as often as possible.
  3. Increase your water intake. The Mayo clinic says, “The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake for men is roughly about 13 cups (3 liters) of total beverages a day. The adequate intake for women is about 9 cups (2.2 liters) of total beverages a day.”
  4. Relieve your STRESS! Sounds hard, right? It doesn’t have to be. Make sure to set some time aside for yourself:
    • Take a bath at the end of the evening.
    • Read a book alone.
    • Make lists of the thing you need to do. Lists have been proven to help you keep things organized, relieving the stress of you having to keep it in the back of your mind.
    • Make time to go out and have fun!
    • Enjoy the process.