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SMH
Published: 14
April 2007
Here comes the sun
The sun will
have his hat on again this weekend.
And science suggests we should make
the most of it. A new study has
shown that spending just 20 minutes
basking in the sun can be a good
defence against getting a cold or
flu in the winter months.
It's
apparently thanks to vitamin D,
which is produced by our skin when
it comes into contact with sunlight.
A healthy supply of vitamin D boosts
our immune systems, which is the
reason colds and flu are
significantly less common in the
summer months when sunlight is
plentiful.
Most of us do
not get enough sunlight. We work
indoors, travel in cars, lather on
sun cream when we do venture out. Of
course, too much sun is a very bad
idea and enhances the risk of skin
cancer. But as this study suggests,
we do need a little more light in
our lives.
So for at
least a little while this weekend,
become a sun-worshipper.
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