Is sunshine the ultimate weight loss secret?
Vitamin D and weight loss
We all know that Sunlight is the best source of Vitamin D, a nutrient responsible for lifting our mood, boosting immunity and keeping our bones healthy. Apparently, there's yet another reason why you must get plenty of this nutrient: To lose weight. The best part is you do not even have to do anything.
Vitamin D and weight loss
Vitamin
D is a fat-soluble vitamin that you can get from sunlight, some foods
or supplements. When your skin is exposed to the UV rays, it starts
changing cholesterol present in the body to Vitamin D.
According to a study by the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry that was published in the journal Scientific Reports, sunlight shrinks fat cells and can aid in weight loss. When our skin penetrates the blue-light wavelength and it reaches the fat present under the skin, lipid droplets shrink and are released out of the cell. In simple words, sunlight helps to get rid of all the extra fat of the body. Deficiency of this nutrient is also linked with obesity. This can also be established by the fact that people gain more weight in winters due to weaker UV rays.
Getting vitamin D in winters
Getting
a sufficient amount of this nutrient is easier in summers, but in
winters it is quite complex. First, the sunlight is not that strong in
the cold season and secondly, due to chilly weather most people like to
stay indoors. But if you are trying to lose weight then make it a habit
to spend some time outdoors to speed up your weight loss process. If not
you can try to include more of vitamin D rich foods in your diet like
mushrooms, dairy products, okra and others. You can also try supplements
after consulting your doctor.
How long you must stay outdoors
The
study indeed highlighted the importance of vitamin D but did not
clearly mention how long one must stay in the sun. In general, spending
10-15 minutes in the sunlight is enough in summer, but in winters one
needs to spend 1 or 2 hours to get the recommended amount of vitamin D.
The best time to get sunlight is in the morning 10 am -11 am and in the
afternoon between 1 pm-3 pm.
Too much exposure to sunlight
There
are multiple studies that prove that sunlight is important for health,
but spending too much time can also have some harmful effects. Too much
exposure can lead to skin cancer. So, apply some sunscreen when you step
outside.