5 March 2019
Sunshine boosts levels of serotonin, the body’s natural happy hormone, so there are plenty of great reasons for living on a sun-soaked isle. Sun also helps the heart, eases joint pain lower the risk of some cancers – millions of people cite improved health when they choose to retire to the Caribbean sunshine.
You’ll start the day better
Being woken up gradually by the sun’s natural light switches off melatonin, the hormone that stimulates sleep. This improves your energy and mood without the “fight or flight” stress of an alarm clock forcing you awake. You’ll wake up at your own pace and benefit all day from a calmer, clearer mind.
It boosts your mood
Sunshine boosts levels of serotonin, the body’s natural happy hormone. Just five minutes of sunshine is enough to make you feel less stressed, according to research published in the Environmental Science & Technology journal – imagine how the day-long sunshine in The Caribbean could make you feel?!
Your memory works better
The high level of vitamin D in the bloodstream can boost memory and protect against dementia, according to studies in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. Sunshine boost our vitamin D levels, improving memory and speeding up our ability to process information.
Things hurt less
Being out in the sun helps to warm the body’s muscles and eases stiffness, reducing the pain caused by inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. Millions of retirees abroad cite sunshine as a major health boost as they experience less joint pain and muscle pension thanks to the warm, health-giving properties of day-long sunshine.
It helps weight loss
Morning sunshine can help lower body fat, according to scientists. As the most potent agent in synchronizing a person’s body clock, light regulars the circadian rhythms which, in turn, also regulate energy balance, says Dr Phyllis Zee, professor of neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Not getting sufficient light can muddle your internal body clock, altering the metabolism and causing weight gain. Serotonin can also act as a natural appetite suppressant for some people.
It aids longevity
Sunshine contributes to longevity, especially when combined with a healthy diet based on natural ingredients free of preservatives and processing. In The Caribbean, fruits and vegetables are found in abundance with seafood, rice and locally-grown fresh produce the mainstay of most diets.
