Why does the sun make me feel happy?

Ever noticed how a sunny day instantly lifts your spirits? Turns out, there's more to that warm, fuzzy feeling than just the beautiful weather. Let's dive into the science behind why the sun makes us feel so happy!

Sunlight helps you create vitamin D

A study by Wacker, M., & Holick, M. F. in 2013 titled “Sunlight and Vitamin D: A global perspective for health” explained that when sunlight hits your skin, your skin absorbs UV B radiation and eventually converts it into vitamin D. Vitamin D plays a crucial role in regulating mood and warding off the blues. Research has shown that low levels of vitamin D are linked to an increased risk of depression and mood disorders.

Sunlight boost serotonin production

Serotonin is the hormone responsible for boosting your mood. In 2002, a study titled “Effect of sunlight and season on serotonin turnover in the brain” was published by
Dr GW Lambert, PhD, C Reid, PhD, DM Kaye, MBBS, GL Jennings, MBBS, MD Esler, MBBS took blood samples from 101 healthy men and measured the serotonin consentration across different seasons and weather conditions. Their study showed that there is a direction relationship between sunlight expose and the production of serotonin - and that the rate of serotonin production in increased brightness.

So, there you have it!