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46 asiaSpa India January-February 2015

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LIFESTYLE

helping keep certain varieties of cancers at bay. “Vitamin D is

not only required for bone growth, but as new research has

shown, it is also essential for development and healing of tissues,

especially during early years of growth,” says Dr Sanjay Agarwala,

Joint Replacement and Orthopaedic Reconstructive Surgeon at PD

Hinduja National Hospital, Mumbai.

“Defi ciency of vitamin D - be it owing to a lack of adequate

skin exposure to sunlight or insuffi cient intake via foods or

supplements – can result in acute weakness of the bones in

adults, also known as osteoporosis. In children, vitamin D defi cit

has been found to be the most common cause for rickets, a

disease wherein the bones bend and get deformed,” he adds.

Getting it right

So, now the question that arises is how much sun exposure

should you ideally aim for, while successfully avoiding the evils

of excess? “One should try and sun bathe for about two-four

hours thrice a week in order to reap the maximum benefi ts of

the curative rays of the sun,” advises Dr Gorav Gupta. Indulging

in outdoor activities like jogging, open-air luncheons and picnics,

swimming in the open, and afternoon leisure walks will not only

offer you a chance to revel in the dazzling winter sun, but will

also heighten your fi tness quotient.

Doing it with décor

If unable to step out regularly, there are also ways in which

you can invite the sun right into your home and hearth. By

incorporating décor and design features like skylights and sun

roofs within your house, you can receive this remedial bounty of

nature on a daily basis. You may also layer up your windows with

gossamer cotton curtains in neutral shades in order to ensure the

dappled entry of sunbeams during the day.

Within your walls, play with vibrant shades of colours or

pristine whites as they tend to be refl ective of light, and therefore

help fi ll any space with an abundance of natural luminosity and

an airy, breathable quality. One can also make use of mirrors

which, when placed strategically, help refl ect incoming sunlight

to instantly brighten up a room. If not upto the effort, the very

simple act of leaving the window shades up or the doors open

during daytime is sure to amply take care of your sunlight needs.

So, there you have it – an exhaustive list of reasons and ways

which urge you to wake up every morning and open your arms

wide to the magnifi cent life giving star that’s the sun.

I

t was celebrated poet Walt Whitman who had said, “Keep

your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will

fall behind you,” and he could not have gotten it more

right - literally and metaphorically.

Be it physical strengthening, psychological

upliftment, mood enhancing or overall wellbeing – the

magical sun has the capability to help you with all.

Some lovely chills aside, the winter season also comes

accompanied by its fair share of maladies, which makes it the

perfect spell of the year to soak up some much-needed sunshine.

Beat the blues

Heliotherapy or atapa snana, refers to the therapeutic science of

sun bathing, which has been recommended and practiced since

time immemorial. Sun exposure has been known to naturally

increase serotonin levels in one’s body, which in turn ensures a

livelier and more active you.

“Ample sun exposure reduces the risk of Seasonal Affective

Disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression or winter blues.

One of the main aspects that affect SAD is a fall in the serotonin

levels. Another factor affecting SAD is the level of melatonin

in the body that gets disrupted due to change in season,” says

Dr Gorav Gupta, Psychiatrist & Director at Tulasi Healthcare,

New Delhi. Talking about other conditions related to lack of

sun absorption, he adds, “SAD not only accounts for disrupted

sleep but also triggers random mood swings. Some other

common symptoms of this condition are depression, irritability,

unexplained stomach and joint pains, changes in appetite and

feeling tired most of the time.”

So, if you are feeling blue, sunlight is the perfect cure for you.

Not just that, if that’s not enough, soaking up some glorious sun

might also help you snooze better! Sunlight not only brightens

up your mood but also supports maintenance of your body’s

circadian rhythms which directly affect one’s sleep patterns.

Talking of sleep patterns - if you are bugged by the musty

smells pervading your winter comforters and quilts fret not,

for the friendly sun has another ace up its sleeve. The UV

rays emanating from the sun are effective in killing off odour-

producing bacteria, and this is the reason which propels

homemakers to let stuff which is just out of storage sit under

direct sunlight.

Medically speaking

Apart from enhancing one’s mental health, one of the more

principal physical benefi ts of sunlight is the strengthening of

our bones through the production of vitamin D. Optimum levels

of vitamin D bolsters the immune system, while also actually

There is one thing that the universe bestows us abundantly,

with sunshine, so make the most of it for the betterment of your

heart, home and health

By Megha Sharma

sunny

side up!

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