The weather is cooling and sunny days are dwindling, so many sun lovers are heading indoors. You might want to reconsider, according to advice from Harvard Medical School.
Most Americans spend 90 percent of their lives indoors, and people tend to spend less time outside as they age. But are you hurting your health by spending so much time cooped up? You could be, say the Harvard experts, who offer five potential health benefits of spending more time in the great outdoors.
1. More vitamin D
Your body can produce generous amounts of vitamin D, often referred to as the "sunshine vitamin," simply by exposing your skin to the sunlight. Recent studies have shown vitamin D may provide protection from many ailments, including heart attacks, cancer, stroke, and depression.
One problem is that although wearing sunscreen protects the body from skin cancer, those same ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, stimulate the body to produce vitamin D. Not using sunscreen for short walks — but adding it when you're going to be in the sun for an extended period of time during the middle of the day — can be a happy middle ground. You can also supplement your diet with vitamin D pills. Recommended dosage ranges from 400 to 1,000 IU per day.
