Most of us like to feel the sun on our faces and breathe in the fresh air, but do you know how important this actually is to our wellbeing?
There are significant health benefits, much as there are to being exposed to more natural light, as we discussed recently here.
In later years it can be more difficult to get outside, perhaps for health or mobility reasons. This can lead to loneliness, boredom and depression.
Being outdoors can improve physical and mental health. Even being indoors but bathing in sunlight is a great start, which is why we’ve made sure the expansive windows in our villas make optimum use of this.
So what are the benefits of sunshine and fresh air on wellbeing? Let’s have a closer look…
Sunshine
Research has found that spending just 30 minutes in the sun can provide you with a day's recommended supply of vitamin D, absorbing it through the skin. Vitamin D helps reduce your risk of type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and heart disease.
Spending just 15 minutes soaked in daylight can help your body close down melatonin, which sends you to sleep. So sunlight helps your body develop a more stable sleep routine.
Sunlight fights off depression because serotonin - our happy chemical - is more prevalent in our brain when the days are lighter and longer. When serotonin levels increase, so does our mood as endorphins are produced red blood cell production rises carrying oxygen through our body and to our brain..
Sunlight has also been found to improve liver function and speed up metabolism, helping to prevent obesity.
It has also been claimed that sunlight lowers blood cholesterol levels and possibly even slows down the signs of ageing.
Fresh air
By inhaling fresh air it helps to clear your lungs. This means you can take deeper, longer breaths of air. And this increases the amount of oxygen in your body, giving greater energy and giving your mind greater clarity.
Is crucial for your body’s metabolism and energy levels.
Strengthens your immune system - because white cells need extra oxygen to help them beat off viruses.
As the brain needs more than 20% of the body’s oxygen to function properly, fresh air undoubtedly Improves concentration.
Like sunshine, fresh air boosts serotonin levels, so improves our mood.
Helps to improve heart rate and blood pressure.
Also helps to reduce sore muscles - the aches and cramp caused by lactic acid built up during exercise.
Scalesceugh Hall & Villas co-founder Anita Herdeiro says: “In Cumbria, we experience 30% less sunshine than people do in Mediterranean countries like Spain.
“It has been proved that mood and activity is significantly affected by light, which was one of the reasons our international group of architects created a lot of light in the villas - through positioning and sizes of the windows.
“Fortunately, our beautiful location also entices people outside into their own gardens, or into the gardens of Scalesceugh Hall - or to explore the region around us.”
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