posted
Sunlight stimulates vitamin D production, which is good for the immune system.
Better to sit outside, but if you're in the north, that's difficult.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
| IP: Logged |
joalo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12752
posted
Sunshine on my bare skin seems to help me with depression.
-------------------- Sick since January 1985. Misdiagnosed for 20 years. Tested CDC positive October 2005. Treating since April 2006. Posts: 3228 | From Somewhere west of the Mississippi | Registered: Aug 2007
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Google search: "Benefits of sunlight" and you'll find lots of good reading. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm not an authority on the topic but I have heard pretty consistently that 10 min a day is all you need for vit. D.
Obviously you have to be careful to avoid skin cancer but as a lymie I take doxy which can make us sun sensitive. Personally I am lucky that I don't burn even after hours in the sun.
I have a killer tan in the summer just from walking my dog twice a day. It's kindof fun because everyone compliments me and I know my secret :-)
Posts: 982 | From Florida | Registered: Feb 2002
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- The light coming into your eyes can be much longer than for the time it is okay for your skin.
If fact, if daylight hits the eyes very first thing in the morning for 20 minutes (you don't have to even be in the sun - and the sun should not be directly in your eyes at all) but for the day light to be in your eyes, no glasses, no contacts, no sunglass, no windows . . . lots of good things happen in the brain and for the immune system.
This is also a treatment to lift mood and reset the circadian rhythm that tells you to go to bed at a reasonable time at night. -
[ 11-22-2009, 01:10 AM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
Keebler beat me to it on both count- Vit. D and Sleep Cycle and Depression. Three counts I guess. My LLMD would not prescribe Doxy in summer so patients could get some benefits from the sun, and not risk the easy sunburn side effect.
Posts: 365 | From Sylvania | Registered: Aug 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
I have been running outside from work to soak up 10 minutes of sun whenever there's a gap in the cloud-cover. Hey, smokers take breaks, I take Vitamin D breaks. And- my last two blood tests showed Vit D right in range, rather than abyssmally low (of course that's after 2 years lyme and babs tx).
Sun feels good, improves mood, and helps immune system
Posts: 524 | From Hudson Valley, NY | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
My doctor strongly warned me about sun exposure while taking doxy. Protect the skin AND EYES from burn; doxy increases your sun sensitivity.
That said, I agree the sun helps the mood, even if it is just a placebo affect.
Posts: 212 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Jul 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
The glare of the computer does not have the same effect as sunlight-just wanted all you night owls to know that. In fact, it has the opposite effect-and can really screw up your sleep cycle, ruin your eyes and your wrists and your relationships and your ability to participate in real life.
Posts: 365 | From Sylvania | Registered: Aug 2008
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- JR has an excellent point about light in the eyes late at night - or even much after 9 pm, really. That is the hardest part of self-care for me.
As for winter and it being cold, even in winter, bundle up and open a window or step out first thing in the morning. Closing off a small room and sitting by an open window for a while can be very helpful. Breathing exercises or simple stretching (even reading) can be done as long as the eyes are near the screen and daylight gets to them.
It's better to be outside, though, but at least an open screened window is better than nothing.
Remember, no glass or anything else should be between the surface of the eye and daylight for that first 20 minutes - not even contact lenses. That part really matters. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic