Let the Sunshine In - Your Body Will Thank You as Long as You're Smart About It

Did you know that rickets is making a comeback? I didn’t really know what rickets was until today. Turns out it’s a condition mainly seen in children, characterized by weak or soft bones. Rickets is most often caused by a lack of vitamin D, although there are hereditary forms as well. The disease was fairly common into the 20th century but had become very rare in developed nations.

In 2019, the number of children hospitalized for rickets was the highest it’s been in 50 years. Many researchers believe that parents’ vigilance in the use of UV-blocking sunscreen and the habit of making sure their children are covered up when playing outside may be contributing factors in the re-emergence of the disease.

Sunlight, especially those ultraviolet rays, convert vitamin D in your body from an inactive state to an active state. Without active vitamin D, your body cannot absorb calcium as readily, which can lead to skeletal, dental, and neuromuscular issues. Kids these days being allowed to sit around inside playing video games or watching TV and not getting outside to play in the sunlight might also be a large contributing factor in the increasing number of rickets cases worldwide. This summer, get those kids outside. Good thing there are plenty of options for outdoor activity on Seven Mile Beach. Did you also know it used to be called “Sea Island”? That doesn’t have anything to do with rickets. Just something else I didn’t know until recently.

As for sunlight, the benefits don’t stop with preventing rickets. Lack of vitamin D can cause just as many issues for adults as well. Some symptoms might include muscle weakness or hyperexcitability, bone pain, and increased risk for cardiovascular disease and asthma. It can also lead to low blood calcium and low blood phosphate. Vitamin D plays a role in insulin production and immune function as well. A study in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention in 2009 showed “accumulating evidence for sunlight as a protective factor for several types of cancer.”

Many experts agree that to maintain an ideal range for vitamin D you need 10 to 30 minutes of unprotected sun exposure several times a week. This time will vary depending on how fair your skin is, on what latitude you live, and what time of year it is. So, someone with darker skin who is in a northern latitude will need a little more exposure than a fair-skinned person living on the equator. I always seem to get a little too much sun at the beginning of the season. Maybe I think I’m a little darker than I really am, but I usually end up looking like I’m wearing a lobster suit.

Aside from vitamin D, sunlight has many other health benefits as well. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh found that nitric oxide is released into the bloodstream upon sunlight hitting the skin. Nitric oxide helps reduce blood pressure, lessening risk of stroke and heart attack. The human eye contains specific photosensitive cells that have direct connection to the pineal and pituitary glands and the hypothalamus region of the brain. The pineal gland produces melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone and a powerful antioxidant that helps regulate your sleep patterns by synchronizing circadian rhythms. It also defends against oxidative stress, protects your skin, helps prevent depression, and is important for proper intestinal function. The pituitary gland and hypothalamus are closely related, secreting a combined 16 hormones. Natural full-spectrum sunlight during the day plays an important role in supporting the process.

With the myriad benefits of a little sun exposure, you should take full advantage of every opportunity “Sea Island” affords you to reap these rewards. With sun exposure already elevating serotonin and endorphins, you can boost the benefits even more by combining it with a little exercise. Double down on your mental and physical health. Stone Harbor and Avalon both offer ample options for some outdoor fitness. From pickleball to beach yoga to the barre-inspired Swell Session, there should be something that suits your fancy. There are also many options for kids with sport camps, Speed School Stone Harbor, or maybe some crabbing and fishing. You can rent some paddleboards or just enjoy your day on the beach.

Although sunshine is a wonderfully healthy thing to enjoy, there is such a thing as too much. After your allotted 30 minutes (or 10 minutes for my fair-skinned Irish/Ukranian wife) find a healthy sunscreen to keep you from getting too burnt. Be careful: There have been quite a few recalls recently on some popular sunscreens for cancer-causing ingredients, so do some research.

Enjoy the sun (instead of rickets) – just don’t put on your lobster suit.