Follow the Sun
We’re turning our platform over to the cats today since they are the experts on chasing sunlight.
Mateo and Kali
As cats, we know sunshine is good for you. We follow the sunlight around the house all day, every day … unless the woodstove is going, in which case, we forgo the sun to lay as close as possible to the stove for maximum warmth.
We’re fortunate to live in Colorado, which enjoys 300 days of sunshine each year. Mom told us that people can experience a condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression linked to seasonal changes that drains your energy and affects your mood, usually impacting individuals from fall through winter. It's believed that exposure to sunlight increases the brain’s production of a hormone called serotonin, which is associated with enhancing mood and helping a person feel calm and focused. We definitely feel relaxed when we’re enjoying the sun.
Sunlight can not only boost your mood but also provide Vitamin D, a nutrient essential for building and maintaining healthy bones. Your body can only absorb calcium—the primary component of bone—when vitamin D is present. Additionally, vitamin D regulates numerous cellular functions in your body. It possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, supporting immune health, muscle function, and brain cell activity. Your body produces vitamin D when direct sunlight converts a chemical in your skin into its active form. The amount of vitamin D your skin generates depends on various factors, including the time of day, season, latitude, and skin pigmentation. Depending on your location and lifestyle, vitamin D production may diminish or be entirely absent during the winter months. While important for preventing skin cancer, sunscreen can also reduce vitamin D production. Experts recommend aiming for five to fifteen minutes of sunlight on your face, arms, and hands two to three times a week. In our opinion, seeking out the sun daily is beneficial.
May your weekend be bright and you get a chance to enjoy the sun.