REGULAR SUN EXPOSURE IS CONSISTENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH LONGER LIFE EXPECTANCY

UV radiation is a skin carcinogen, yet no studies link sun exposure to increased all-cause mortality." (PMID: 38661623)

One major reason is that when sunlight (specifically UV-A) hits your skin, it triggers the release of Nitric Oxide, a compound that improves blood flow and reduces cardiovascular deaths (PMID: 24445737).

For example, 29 518 swedish women were followed for 20 years and they found tha avoiding the sun is a risk factor for death comparable in magnitude to smoking (since smoking increases cardiovascular deaths).

Worried about skin cancer? It’s primarily sunburn—not moderate/sensible sun exposure—that poses a serious risk.

In fact, other studies show you're less likely to be diagnosed with melanoma (the most deadly form of skin cancer) if you spend more time in the sun without burning, according to Dr. Michael Holick, a leading endocrinologist at the University of Boston (PMID: 24288300, 12787139).

Even the most common cancer in the world—basal cell carcinoma (BCC), a type of skin cancer—is linked not only to sun exposure but also to longer life expectancy (PMID: 20574600, 23521172). As Dr. Weller puts it: “When you have a BCC skin cancer diagnosis, your actuarial life expectancy goes up.”

So if living longer and feeling better sound good to you, consider this your friendly reminder to get outside and soak up some sunshine.