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Fun in the sun

The sun gets blamed for a lot, but as long as you don't sit out in it from morning until night, it can also have some benefits

Experts are always telling us why the sun is such a bad thing as far as our health is concerned, but there are lots of reasons why the sun can actually be good for us. Here are nine reasons to get out in the sun this summer!

It encourages us to eat more healthily
When the sun comes out, we are far more inclined to eat healthy foods like salad. There is something about summer that suddenly makes us want to be healthy. It also reduces your appetite, so you don't feel the need to binge on snacks and junk food.

We drink more water
Because the weather is hotter, we need to drink more, which means that summer is one of the only times of the year that we actually drink the recommended eight glasses of water a day. This gives you a lovely clear complexion that will glow with good health, so you'll be the envy of everyone you know.

We can stock up on vitamin D
Most of us don't get enough vitamin D. We can get some from our food, but sunlight is by far the best source. Our bodies cannot store vitamin D, so we need to soak up the sun to get our quota. Experts suggest that as little as 10 or 15 minutes of exposure to direct sunlight (without sun cream) is enough, and this is a short enough period for most of us to avoid getting sunburn.

If we are deficient in vitamin D, some experts believe that this might increase our chances of developing certain types of cancer in later life, as well as conditions such as osteoporosis, arthritis and schizophrenia. It also helps us to absorb calcium more efficiently, which helps to keep our bones healthy. What more of an excuse do you need to get out in the sun?

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