Can Sunshine Help Keep the Weight Off?

You lost the weight, but now you want to make sure you can keep the weight off. You worked hard to lose it and what a disappointment if you start to put the weight back on. What if just 20 to 30 minutes of sunshine every day could boost your metabolism and that can help to keep the weight off.

According to a study that was just released from Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, sunshine in the morning can actually lower your BMI (Body Mass Index).

No matter what your physical activity level is, what your diet looks like, how you sleep or your age, those who have exposure to natural light from 8 am to noon, their BMI’s are much lower than those who get exposed to natural light later in the day.

Why is it that sunshine supports weight loss?

According to Giovanni Santostasi, Ph.D, and co-author, the reason is that the natural light actually gives your circadian rhythm a boost – in other words, your internal clock gets a boost, which is linked to regulating your hunger, energy levels and metabolism. Studies done previously found that if you are exposed to bright light later in the day or evening, is more likely to mess up your circadian clock and throw it out of whack, which increases the risk of obesity.

So how much sun is needed to boost your metabolism?

Researchers have learned that 500 units of luminance (lux) is the amount that a person must have if you want to have an affect on your BMI. In the morning, the natural light offers more than 1000 lux. In fact, even when it is cloudy out you will still get at least 1000 lux. As the day progresses the lux number goes down and then eventually they reach a point where the sun’s rays no longer have any effect on the circadian clock.

Will artificial light work the same?

Artificial light doesn’t work. First of all, most offices are not lit very well, so they provide only 200 too 300 lux. Kathy Reid, Ph.D., lead author of the Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine study, says that any amount of outdoor light is still better than the light you will get on the inside.

The Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine study also shows that in addition to the time you get your exposure to the sun, the duration and the intensity is important too. You need 20 to 30 minutes of sunshine in the morning if you want to affect your BMI. Why not grab your newspaper and coffee and go sit on the deck or you could take your dog for a stroll or go for a morning walk. Whatever you do, make sure that you get morning sun exposure as this is when the sun has the highest intensity.

Reid says, "The longer you are in the light and the stronger the rays, the better your results.”

Another take on Sunshine and Weight Loss

It seems that the link between sunshine and weight loss isn’t new but some of the latest research shows that Vitamin D not only supports strong bones/teeth and a healthy immune system, it will help to increase the calories that you burn. This is especially true in the belly area.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota conducted a clinical study of 38 people looking to see if one’s Vitamin D level could be a predictor of a one’s ability to lose fat. According to Shalamar Sibley, one of the study’s researchers, the results showed that if you started with an inadequate Vitamin D level, this had the potential to perhaps inhibit one’s ability to lose weight on a reduced calorie diet.

While this Vitamin D study was only an observational study with no clearly defined relationship between Vitamin D and weight loss, in the past, there were around 300 studies on Vitamin D and its abilities. The results have indicated that there may be a relationship between Vitamin D and weight loss.

There are many foods that contain Vitamin D such as fish, dairy products, liver, eggs, cheese, ready to eat cereals, and you can always take a Vitamin D supplement.

HGH Supplementation and How it Can Help

In addition to sunshine and Vitamin D, taking an HGH supplement like Genf20 Plus can be highly beneficial in weight loss, especially belly fat and increasing lean muscle mass. HGH supplements have been shown to be effective at slowing the aging process. Belly fat is directly linked to aging and a slowing of the metabolism.

Imagine the benefits of combining sunshine, Vitamin D and an HGH supplement like Genf20, not only in losing the weight but in keeping it off. Plus you can enjoy the additional benefits of HGH.