How Escaping To Sunny Places Can Improve Your Health

Heliotherapy has been practiced since the days of the early Greeks, and even the great Hippocrates was an advocate of the sun’s healing properties. Far from being dangerous, controlled and moderate exposure to sunlight has numerous benefits that can aid skin, bones and one’s mental mindset. Here are some great reasons to take that seaside vacation idea off the back-burner and start planning today.

What is heliotherapy all about?

The science of heliotherapy is simple and treatment is free; all that is needed is some fresh air and sunshine. It’s a holistic approach to the healing energy of light that has been somewhat forgotten in modern times. It relies on the power of sunlight to regulate Vitamin D levels in order to keep bodies healthier and minds less cluttered.

Zanzibar is the perfect place for a beach break

Get a natural dose of Vitamin D

Why does the body need it?

Vitamin D regulates the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and is important for the growth and development of bones and teeth. It also aids the immune system and improves resistance against certain diseases. Not getting enough of the sunshine drug can lead to bone and muscular pain, stress fractures and tiredness.

Why not just take a supplement?

Besides the feelgood factor of just soaking up some rays for a while, sunlight provides a vast array of essential minerals. Iron, magnesium, sodium and carbon, among others, are all transmitted in refined form, penetrating the body in an enduring, safe and pleasant way that far outweighs what comes in tablet form.

When to get your heliotherapy

Contrary to what is the norm, heliotherapy advocates get out into the sun (albeit for closely monitored periods) during the sun’s peak hours, around noon. This is the time when UVB exposure is at its highest, as opposed to the morning and late afternoon when UVA is peaking. Unlike UVB, UVA doesn’t help produce Vitamin D through the skin and is also the UV ray associated with melanoma. At noon, you get a balance of both, and the opportunity to get Vitamin D levels up naturally.

Moderation is key

Having a complexion lighter than Snow White doesn’t mean the sun should be constantly avoided. However, those with very fair complexions – or who come from colder, northern regions – should practice additional caution when settling down on a sun-lounger. Ten to fifteen minutes is all that is needed to start topping up Vitamin D levels and, as the body begins to gain a bronze glow, this time can be extended. On the other hand, those with darker complexions may need a bit more than a quarter of an hour before starting to reap the health benefits of the sun’s rays.

The feelgood factor

The flush of a tan, blended with beach sand, seas salt, sun lotion, and the fresh sea air can also have a profound effect on the mind. Vitamin D helps regulate sleep, so don’t be surprised if you feel the need to climb into bed after a day at the beach. Sound and peaceful slumber is within easier reach when the body gets enough sunshine.

Sufficient levels of Vitamin D have also shown to help regulate mood swings and assist in warding off depression, as well as contribute to controlling anxiety.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.