Living in a tropical country like ours might make one prone to hating the sun (and all its scorching glory!), but remember that adequate sun exposure can actually benefit our health more than we know.

Here are 8 advantages of sunshine:

KILLS BAD BACTERIA

More than letting light in to wake you up, there’s more reason why you should leave your bedroom windows open and let the sunshine in. The sun’s rays kills the germs and bad bacteria on your bed, and elsewhere in your room. It’s also why you should let your clothes hang under the sun a bit longer—so it smells cleaner, fresher, and germ-free!

TREATS SKIN DISORDERS

Sunlight is so much a powerful agent that it can actually help heal serious skin disorders, such as psoriasis, acne, eczema, and other fungal infections. The sun’s rays helps disinfect wounds and even heal your skin.

LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE

Exposure to sunlight can help lower your blood pressure, which, in turn, also lowers your risk of getting a heart attack, kidney disease, or stroke. It is believed that even minimal exposure to sunlight (e.g. 30 minutes!) is enough to already better your health.

HELPS OXYGEN CIRCULATION

Sunlight helps your body deliver more oxygen content to your blood, which is a benefit you usually get only after exercising. Sunlight exposure also improves overall health, stamina, fitness, and muscular development.

CURES MILD DEPRESSION

When you lack sun exposure, you can actually experience a condition called SAD or seasonal affective disorder. It’s a form of depression, although more commonly experienced by those living during the winter season, that’s not to say we’ll be immune to it. You can also get SAD from too long hours indoors, like in an office cubicle with hardly any windows.

STRENGTHENS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Exposure to sunlight means an increase in your body’s production of white blood cells (a.k.a. lymphocytes), which protect your health and defend the body against sickness and infections. So the next time you decide against going outside because it’s hot outside, just think you’re doing it for your health.

BUILDS STRONGER BONES

It’s not just babies who need to stay out in the sun for a good few minutes. Vitamin D is also essential for bone health and the prevention of bone-wasting diseases, such as osteoporosis.

IMPROVES SLEEP

Sunlight helps maintain your internal body clock and follow the normal 24-hour rhythm of your body. The amount of sunlight exposure you get every morning is essential to that. Your body will then adapt to a healthy sleep-wake cycle which will then allow you to get better quality sleep at night.

Know of any other benefits? Share them with us below!