During the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, everyone is advised to do more activities at home. However, this does not mean that in isolation or self-quarantine, one does not do any activities at all.
Many activities can be done, even provide mental health value plus fun as well, like the benefits of playing bingo. But one of them that’s way easier to do is sunbathing in the morning.
It is said that the morning sunlight is beneficial for the body’s metabolism as well as increasing endurance. Therefore, sunbathing in the morning becomes a positive activity when we face the condition of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.
However, not only newborns, children, teenagers, adults, and parents also need to be exposed to the morning sun. Why the morning? Because this time is the best time to sunbathe, where the sun is still not too hot.
In addition, the morning sun produces ultraviolet rays that if absorbed by the skin will help our body produce vitamin D. It plays such an important role in regulating calcium and phosphorus levels to maintain the health of bones, immune system, as well as muscle and nerve work. Plus, you can make your body warmer as well, just like having the benefits of exercise.
Sunbathing not only helps the body meet the needs of vitamin D, but also provides many other good things for health, as long as it is done correctly.
Some of these benefits include reducing the risk of cancer, lowering high blood pressure, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, improving mood and sleep quality, overcoming depression, and improving brain function.
Usually, people sunbathe in the morning, which is between 7 to 9 am with consideration at these times the sun is not too hot so it will not sting too much in our skin.
However, it turns out this is not right, because during that time, the sun produces ultraviolet A which we should avoid precisely because it can cause the skin to become wrinkled and at risk of skin cancer. It’s always advised to sunbath around 10 AM in order to get all those previously mentioned health benefits.
It also brings wonderful health benefits for elderly, such as :
1. Improves Sleep Quality
With age, a person will experience quite drastic changes in sleep patterns. That’s why the elderly often have trouble sleeping, like waking up pretty early, and get sleepy faster during the day.
In fact, getting enough rest greatly affects the physical and emotional resilience of the elderly. So, how to overcome the difficulty of sleeping well in the elderly? Here’s an explanation.
Good quality of sleep is always needed in order to “refresh” the human body, especially in the elderly. Because, a good night’s sleep can help improve memory in the elderly thereby reducing the risk of senile.
Adequate and sound sleep is also useful to repair the damage to the body’s cells that occur throughout the day. As a result, the immune system of the elderly becomes stronger so it is not easy to get sick.
In this case, sunlight plays an important role in the sleep cycle. When the body feels natural sunlight, it stops the production of melatonin, the hormone responsible for sleep.
Therefore, the elderly who enjoy the sun will occur during the day, but can sleep at night. You can also get the mental benefits of exercise as well during the process.
2. Reduce the Risk of Depression
The elderly often experience depression while living their daily lives. There are many factors of elderly people experiencing this, one of which is the age factor.
According to health data published by the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, seniors often experience depression because of the situation that is no longer the same when they were young.
When experiencing symptoms of depression, the elderly sometimes lose interest in their daily activities and cause feelings of sadness. In addition, depression can also affect the feelings, thoughts and behaviors of the elderly.
Sunbathing for about 30 minutes each day can help prevent and reduce symptoms of depression in the elderly. In people who are less exposed to sunlight, the occurrence of decreased levels of the hormone serotonin tends to trigger depression. You can also find the similar benefit in benefits of playing tennis.
3. Increases Vitamin D Production
Many elderly people are deficient in vitamin D, which is an essential nutrient for their health. In order to get a good Vitamin D, people tend to rely on the sunlight.
Elderly people who are malnourished are at risk for conditions such as osteoporosis, heart attack, and stroke. While it’s important to avoid prolonged sun exposure, the elderly can sunbathe for a few minutes so that their bodies can produce vitamin D.
However, sunbathing should also pay attention to time to avoid the adverse effects of the morning sun. Sunbathing can not be done carelessly, because the content of vitamins given by the sun is different every time. A good time to bask in the morning sun is around 10am. The duration of sunbathing should also be observed, for at least 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Reducing Alzheimer’s Symptoms
Elderly people with Alzheimer’s sometimes experience changes related to certain symptoms can even increase at any time. These various symptoms usually occur at night.
Well, exposure to the morning sun can reduce the severity of the symptoms experienced by elderly people with Alzheimer’s. With this method that is done regularly, they will feel more comfortable and happy. That said, sunbathing is one of the most pleasant ways to prevent Alzheimer.