Spring Has Sprung: Get outside...it could help you live longer!

How much time do you spend outside each day? The vast majority of people spend less than ten minutes in the fresh air each day. Shocking, right? With our indoor lifestyles we go from car to building and never really spend more than a few minutes at a time outside. The problem with this is that your body needs sunshine to produce vitamin D.

Vitamin D is responsible for a vast number of health benefits. It is essential for strengthening your bones, preventing illness like depression, heart disease, diabetes, as well as many other chronic diseases. It is also crucial in strengthening your immune system.

So how long do you have to be outside each day and how do you make it happen? The experts say that the average person needs about 20 minutes of sunlight each day to produce enough vitamin D to stay healthy. Keep in mind that darker or lighter skin tones may need a little more or less than the average. However, 20 minutes is a good rule of thumb, to go by.

Getting outside for 20 minutes a day, however, can be a little trickier, especially if you live in an area that is prone to cloudy and overcast days. The following tips can help:

• Take A Walk. Walking a mile can take you about twenty minutes. Try walking during your lunchtime when the sun is at its strongest.
• Sit Outside. Another option is to strive to spend a few minutes sitting. You might sit in the back yard or on the patio to drink your morning coffee.
• Get A Sun-Lamp. If you live in an area where the sun doesn’t shine for days on end or the cold weather keeps you inside, consider getting a sun-lamp. You can get enough vitamin D from the UV rays generated by a sun-lamp.
• Change Your Workout. Do you exercise indoors? Try changing your workout so that you’re exercising outside instead. For example, you might change your treadmill or elliptical routine to jog for a few miles outside each day. You can ride your bike too.

Get Your Vitamin D Levels Checked, to make sure you are getting enough. If you’re not, then commit to getting daily sunlight. Vitamin D is not something that your body can store so it’s important to make getting outside a part of your daily lifestyle. High percentage of adults and children are low in vitamin D, necessary vitamin for health, feeling good and weight loss.

Improving your physical health is an important part of increasing your life span. However, it’s also important to make sure that your brain stays strong and active. Next time we’ll explore how to keep your brain strong.