HELLO SUNSHINE!!
Introduction
‘Hello
Sunshine’ is an endearing term used to address a person of affection!
Early
morning sun shine means a lot to many of us!
I have always wondered if the early morning sunshine is a figment
of imagination or a real phenomenon.
As I observe
the early morning sunshine, the early walkers at dawn at the back ground of
bird tweets, it is always an invi
Even the
flowers appear to perk up at the crack of dawn, and become bright and upright
at the thought of seeing the early morning sun. They paradoxically appear to
wither and dwindle at the dusk with the setting of sun.
The mood
elevating effects of the sun appear to diminish as the day goes on. Is it
related to the sunshine or the fact we tire out during the day – I really need to know!
What is it about the early morning
sunshine which is different?
This has
always perplexed me!
Science has
shown that sunlight can bring on the elevation of serotonin in brain and
enhance the release of endorphins.
Serotonin is a mood elevating hormone and this helps you to remain calm and focused!
So this is really true for humans!
Without exposure
to the sun, the serotonin levels in brain can dip.
Lower serotonin levels are noted
in major depressive disorders or SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorders)
Sunlight
cues special areas of retina (the inner lining of eye) to release serotonin. So
being out in the sun…. the early morning sun really helps to keep the mood
elevated, even scientifically!
On the
converse, when darkness sets in, brain releases another hormone called melatonin.
This is responsible for your sleep.
Sun also
enhances a higher level of endorphins, a hormone that gives you a calm and
satisfied feeling which is what we need, when we face the whole wide world the
rest of the day!
Early in
pediatric training, medical students have been taught that early morning sun
shine is good for the new born babies with mild ‘physiological jaundice’!
Many a
patient with low bone density due to vitamin D deficiency is found to be
staying away from sun. The long term therapy is to expose them to the morning
sun.
Sunlight also
helps to build strong bones with vitamin D. It helps to a limited fashion in
diseases like rickets (children), osteomalacia, osteoporosis ( old age).
Too much of a good thing can be bad
for you!
This is a
fact of life!
Too much of
sun especially in the light colored skin can induce buns, blisters and even cancers
of skin!
So caution
and discretion is necessary from exposing to too much sun!
Sunlight
between 10 am and 4 pm is not really good for you due to intense sun burning
and burns!
More than 15
minutes in the hot sun, one needs to have sun screen (Sun Protection Factor
SAF) on the skin.
Still wondering ?!
By the way I
never did find out why the flowers brighten up for the morning sun, to dwindle
away after sunset.
Is it just
photosynthesis?
Photosynthesis is the process by plants to gather energy from sunlight to gain chemical energy.
Plants may be more energetic in sunlight! Hence the flowers perk up?!
Photosynthesis is the process by plants to gather energy from sunlight to gain chemical energy.
Plants may be more energetic in sunlight! Hence the flowers perk up?!
Early morning walking enjoying the sunshine is something that would rejuvenate our spirit and keep it high throughout the day !! Another miraculous example is of the sunflowers( twenty years before , I've enjoyed their beauty in the psg hospital grounds ) when they turn their heads towards the sun till dusk after which they droop down ��.
ReplyDeleteIn India , the " Surya namaskar " is important as you said , may be , for the release of the positive hormones . Myths also state that chanting of " Aditya ( meaning - the sun ) hrudayam facing the sun" God " keeps one healthy .
In bigger cities , it's the sun' s scorching heat that in turn wards humans against several infectious diseases .
Of late , as rightly said, it's advisable to avoid the sun from 10 am to 4 pm as one feels dehydrated and exhausted then .
Maybe the flowers , like us, are energised by the sun - hence brighten up and then exhausted due to the intense heat - dwindle away at dusk ☺️☺️
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