This is something that we normally don’t think too much about since we get so much sunlight here in Malaysia. In fact, we even try to go out of our way to avoid as much sunlight as possible since it just makes us hot and sweaty, which is something we don’t particularly want during the day. Nevertheless, sunlight has some useful benefits for all of us in moderate doses and can play an integral part in maintaining our physical and mental health.
Perhaps the most important function that sunlight allows the skin to naturally produce vitamin D, which is actually the most convenient source for this important vitamin. Of course, vitamin D has been added to many foods now – as humans have moved on to a more sedentary lifestyle indoors, humans no longer get enough sunlight to naturally produce as much vitamin D as is needed to maintain health.
Do note however, that pollution and ozone depletion has caused some changes in the way sunlight reaches the planet and which also determines the level of exposure that is deemed healthy. Too much of anything can be bad for you, and this is also true for sunlight. While the ozone layer was still relatively thick, the ozone filtered out much of the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. Now that the ozone layer has been somewhat depleted, ultraviolet rays are getting through to the earth in increasing levels. Ultraviolet rays are highly energetic electromagnetic waves which can penetrate deep into your cells and modify your DNA in radical ways. Most of the cells that have been affected by this die (hence the sunburn from too much exposure to ultraviolet rays), but the danger is that the DNA is modified in just such a way that the cells become cancerous, which can lead to a host of other health problems.
We should also note that sunlight has more significance to the human body than just the production of vitamin D. In fact, there is a region in the brain called the pineal gland which secretes a substance known as melatonin that has multiple effects around the body. Secretion of melatonin is regulated by the eye’s exposure to sunlight – and this has been posited as a factor behind the depression experienced by many people who live for hours with very little sunlight, such as those who live in temperate countries or shift workers.
With this in mind, we hope that our readers will be motivated to get outside sometimes and enjoy the sunshine. You don’t know how lucky you are living in Malaysia, considering how much people from other parts of the world are willing to pay to get some time out in the sun!
