Sunlight plays an important natural role in our overall health and well-being
Waking up in darkness should soon become a thing of the past as the days start to get longer and brighter again. In the winter, shorter days often mean that some Brits get up when it’s dark, and it looks the same when they’re heading home from work, too.
However, those longing for a bit more sunshine will not have long to wait for mornings to get lighter. Anyone who has to get up early could soon be treated to a beautiful sight of the sun making its first appearance of the day from around 6am within a matter of weeks.
Forecasts have predicted just how soon these lighter mornings could happen. According to Timeanddate.com, Brits could see the sun rise before 6am from March 22. Predictions claim that this date will see daylight start to break at around 5.58am.
And, from there, it only gets earlier. Throughout the rest of the month, the sun should start to appear as early as 5.45am on March 28 – but the charts then dip back due to the clocks changing overnight on March 29.
Alongside mornings getting lighter, days will gradually feel longer as the sunset won’t happen until after 6.30pm for some nights in late March. The days will get progressively longer (in terms of sunlight) until the Summer Solstice, which comes on Sunday, June 21.
During the summer solstice, the Earth’s axis is tilted toward the sun. This means that in the northern hemisphere, the sun is at its highest point in the sky, which leads to the longest day of the year – and the shortest night.
On average, each passing day leading up to the solstice grants the planet around two extra minutes of sunlight a day. Whilst it’s difficult to notice or measure from day-to-day, people will eventually experience sunrises as early as 4.45am in June and sunsets happening after 9pm.
What are the benefits of getting more sunlight per day?
Sunlight plays an important natural role in our overall health and well-being, experts claim. It is suggested that Brits aim to absorb enough light to help with the production of Vitamin D without relying on a supplement.
The NHS claims that most Brits should be able to soak up enough sunlight naturally from about late March or early April to the end of September. Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body.
These nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy. A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children, and bone pain caused by a condition called osteomalacia in adults.
Having longer days offers people a greater window of opportunity to take in the most natural method of producing the vitamin. The NHS website adds: “You cannot overdose on vitamin D through exposure to sunlight. But always remember to cover up or protect your skin if you’re out in the sun for long periods to reduce the risk of skin damage and skin cancer”
