What happens if You don’t get enough Sunlight?
Vitamin D, also called the sun vitamin, is naturally produced by your skin when exposed to the sun.
It is essential for the proper functioning of numerous organs and tissues in your body.
Nearly 40% of Americans are deficient in vitamin D, according to a recent study. People who are not exposed to the sun or who do not get enough vitamin D can experience a variety of adverse effects.
We’ve rounded up some of the most common signs of “sunshine vitamin” deficiency and how they manifest.
What happens if You don’t get enough Sunlight?
Below are the 10 things happening to your body if you don’t get enough sun:
1. Low Energy and Productivity
Sunlight helps your brain produce serotonin, which gives you the energy to think, concentrate, and perform everyday tasks.
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Sunlight also helps your body produce vitamin D, which is an important vitamin that helps keep many systems in your body functioning optimally.
Without sunlight, your body does not produce as much serotonin and vitamin D as it should. Low levels of serotonin can lead to tiredness and lethargy.
Vitamin D deficiency can also cause fatigue, which can make it difficult to concentrate or complete tasks, even if you want to.
2. Foot Deformities
Since vitamin D aids in the digestion of phosphate and calcium, it plays an important role in the treatment of bone-related issues.
When calcium levels in the bones are low, it causes changes in bone structure and bone deformation.
Increasing your vitamin D intake through supplements or exposure to sunlight can help most people maintain adequate levels of calcium in their bones and cells.
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Vitamin D helps to control or reduce chronic foot pain, particularly those associated with conditions like osteoporosis (a condition that causes swelling of the joints and tendons in the feet).
3. Weak Bones
It has been known for a long time that calcium and vitamin D are essential for the health and mineral formation of bones.
Calcium enters the body through the small intestine. Vitamin D helps in the absorption of calcium.
A deficiency of the ‘sun vitamin’ means that the body does not absorb as much calcium as it should. As a result, the bone structure is weakened. People who do not get enough sun damage their bones.
People who are deficient in vitamin D suffer from problems such as bone pain, weakness in the muscles, rickets, and osteomalacia.
Maintaining an adequate amount of vitamin D is essential for the health of the body. Vitamin D is found in the sun, in a healthy diet, and in supplements.
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4. Irregular Sleep-Wake Cycle
As mentioned earlier, sunlight stimulates the production of serotonin and melatonin, two hormones that play a key role in regulating sleep-wake cycles. Serotonin helps us wake up, while melatonin helps us fall asleep.
If you’re not getting enough sunlight, you may experience sleep problems. Too little sunlight can lead to a deficiency of these hormones, which can disrupt your sleep-wake cycle.
You may experience difficulty getting tired, falling asleep at night, or feeling tired during the day.
In particular, melatonin deficiency can lead to sleep problems, which can make it difficult to wake up feeling refreshed, even if you manage to fall asleep.
5. Weakened Immune System
The immune system is responsible for protecting us from infections and keeping us healthy.
Vitamin D and good sleep habits are both important for maintaining a healthy immune system.
When we don’t get enough sunlight and become vitamin D deficient, our immune systems suffer and we may become sick more often.
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A deficiency in vitamin D makes us more prone to colds, flu, infections, and autoimmune diseases.
Without a healthy immune system, we can’t control inflammation or heal wounds.
6. Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is caused by low sun exposure and low levels of vitamin D in cells. Vitamin D levels play an important role in cancer cell survival and growth.
High vitamin D levels are linked to better overall survival in colon cancer patients. Additional clinical studies are needed to determine if vitamin D supplements can help prevent or lessen the risk of colon cancer.
7. Depression
In today’s society, we are used to sitting at our desks, using our computers, and working late hours. We spend more time at our computers than we do at our desks.
We don’t go for walks or outdoor activities. We watch TV shows and play video games when we have a chance to relax.
The lack of light in our lives is one of the main reasons why we suffer from depression. The longer we stay indoors, the more depressed we get.
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If you’re looking for a way to brighten your day, consider spending more time outdoors. You’re sure to find plenty of activities to enjoy, and you’ll stay healthy in the process.
You can also buy home lightboxes to keep your vitamin D levels up during those dark winter months.
8. Skin Problems
Vitamin D changes the balance of your immune system, which is a major factor in the development of psoriasis.
UV B rays are known to be effective in treating psoriasis and acne, as well as other skin conditions.
If you want to keep your skin healthy, you need to make sure you are getting enough vitamin D.
You don’t need to go to the tanning bed to get enough vitamin D, but it’s important to be careful and avoid overexposure to UV rays.
People with psoriasis are at a higher risk of developing melanoma.
9. Nearsightedness
Exposure to direct sunlight can cause damage to your eyes, but not enough sunlight can also damage your eyes.
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It is possible that not getting enough sunlight could lead to nearsightedness, which is the inability to see clearly unless someone is very close to you as you get older.
According to a 2016 study and numerous other studies, people who had less exposure to the sun between the ages of 14 and 39 were more likely to develop nearsightedness at the age of 65.
However, the study did not explain why this was the case, as vitamin D levels were not linked to nearsightedness as was previously thought.
10. Weight Gain
Musculoskeletal disorders such as muscle weakness, bone pain, and deformities can lead to weight gain, prevent physical activity and reduce calorie burning.
Vitamin D also interacts with the hormone leptin to regulate body weight.
Leptin is a hormone produced in fat cells that tells the brain it’s full. Vitamin D aids in the transmission of these signals to the brain.
Vitamin D deficiency can break this cycle, causing you not to feel full and overeating.
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Warnings For Treating Vitamin D Deficiency
There are three main ways to get your daily dose of vitamin D: sunlight, UVB exposure, and supplements. But there are a few things you need to know to get the most out of them.
Excessive sun exposure can lead to skin cancer. To protect your skin, follow a comprehensive sun protection plan.
Stay in the shade, use waterproof sunscreen with an SPF 30 or above, and wear sunscreen and protective clothing.
If you choose to take supplements, keep in mind that the recommended dosage depends on your blood tests and prescription.
While a 30ng/ml vitamin D level is usually considered adequate, don’t take any supplements without consulting a doctor first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few FAQs I get asked concerning (or related to) what happens if you don’t get enough sunlight.
What happens if you get too little sunlight?
Excessive sun exposure, particularly during the winter, can lead to seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression.
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What can you do if you don’t get enough sunlight?
If you walk, cycle, do yoga, or exercise outside regularly, you’ll not only make sure you get enough sun exposure, but you’ll also help keep your body weight in check.
Can lack of sunlight cause illness?
Winter-onset seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is caused by less sunlight during the fall and winter months.
How do you know if you need sun?
- Muscle pain
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Low energy
- Depression
How do you know if you need more sunlight?
From stress and anxiety to depression and irritability, you could be going through a range of mood changes.
Does lack of sunlight make you look younger?
For example, those who avoided exposure to the sun and used sunscreen when exposure was not possible, were able to look 20 years younger than their actual age.
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How much sunlight per day is enough?
2 hours of sun exposure is enough for the day.
How can I get vitamin D without the sun?
In addition to supplements, fortified foods like milk and orange juice can provide vitamin D.
You can also get vitamin D from eating fish like salmon and tuna, as well as sardines and mackerel.
How long can the body go without sunlight?
6 months
What is the best time to take sunlight?
Noontime
What is the benefit of getting enough sun?
Vitamin D production, bone health, blood pressure, disease prevention, and mental health.
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A Word From GetMe Treated
The above tips are what happens if you don’t get enough sunlight! Are you living in a city that lacks sunshine? How do you cope with the lack of sunshine? Let us know in the comments below!
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