Every day the Sun shines, sending its rays to Earth, a blessing to the living creatures on its surface. Some people might mistakenly regard the Sun as merely a source of light that can be replaced at night by artificial light. Others enjoy being exposed to the Sun to get a lovely tan.
However, there is more to the Sun than light, tan, and the discomfort it gives people during summer time due to its heat. One can easily say that the Sun is the basis of life as we know it on Earth.
Plants are “phototrophs” organisms: they do not only need water to grow; they need the sunlight. Plants use the “electromagnetic radiation” from the Sun and transform it into carbohydrates through a process known as “photosynthesis”. This process does not depend solely on the Sun but without it, it cannot be completed.
Most living organisms depend on plants for survival, even if they do not directly eat plants like carnivorous creatures. Lions, for example, eat deer, which feed on plants. Without plants, the survival of deer and lions is threatened. Remarkably, some organisms known as “chemoautotrophs” are not dependent on the Sun for survival. They can be found in deep sea where sunlight is unavailable.
Human beings, subsequently, depend on the Sun for survival because they eat plants and animals. However, human beings’ need for the Sun does not stop at that. As plants, exposure to sunlight benefits human beings.
When we are exposed to sunlight, our bodies can actually make Vitamin-D. Our bodies absorb calcium better in the presence of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency leads to bone weakness. For example, a condition called “rickets” sometimes affects children in which their bones become weak and their legs bowed. Rickets happens when people’s exposure to the Sun becomes limited or almost non-existent.
Nowadays, children and people in general are not exposed to sunlight as they are supposed to. Instead of playing outdoors, children stay indoors in front of computers. Unfortunately, vitamin D is not present in many foods. So, the best way to get it is to go outside and enjoy the beautiful effect of the Sun on your body.
However, people also have to be careful because overexposure to the Sun can be dangerous, especially to the skin. Knowing that, people should not hide from the Sun. Moderate exposure is good; you can embrace the rays of the Sun, look at it with admiration like a sunflower and reap the numerous benefits it presents.
References
ehow.com
orthoinfo.aaos.org
epa.gov