The Sun plays a very vital role in almost all of our activities. However one of the major areas where the Sun's contribution is often discounted is in its promotion of health.

From the very beginning of this century people have considered the Sun as good for health. In the early 1920's the Sun was touted as a cure for all major diseases. It was a time when the phrase "recuperating in the Sun" grew popular. It was claimed that a spell in the Sun, preferably by the seaside, was a kind of magic cure all for all ailments including plague, old age, and tuberculosis.

However as time went by people started spending too much time in the Sun and a number of harmful effects were noticed from the relatively mild skin rashes to the more serious skin cancer. As these became more and more common people started viewing the Sun as a deterrent to health. This has not stopped people from spending time in the Sun; yet it has removed the preconceived notion that the Sun is a wonder drug.

Presently many people view the Sun as something very harmful and dangerous to our health. While it is true the Sun isn't a wonder drug it is also not true that the Sun does nothing for our health.

The Sun plays a very important role in the formation of vitamin D in our body. Vitamin D is a very important vitamin and is necessary for the general well being and strength of our bones. This Vitamin is essential for our health and a major source of this vitamin is through the interaction of the Sun with certain chemicals in our body. The Sun also plays a very important role in maintaining the general health of our skin and acts like a natural disinfectant for the body.

The following pages establish in greater detail the exact benefits of the Sun on the body. However it is essential to know that the Sun is only beneficial in small quantities.

Eyes
Vitamin D