Health Benefits Of Sunshine: It Could Prevent Weight Gain And Diabetes

If we ever needed an excuse to indulge in sunshine-filled holidays then this is it.

According to scientists, that big yellow ball in the sky could protect against weight gain and diabetes.

A new piece of research found that overfed mice with fur shaved to expose their skin were slower to gain weight after basking in ultraviolet light - the same rays that make up sunshine.

They also displayed fewer of the warning signs of diabetes, such as abnormal blood sugar levels and resistance to the hormone insulin.

The benefits of UV treatment were linked to nitric oxide, a compound released by the skin after exposure to sunlight.

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Applying a cream containing nitric oxide to the skin of mice was found to have the same effect on weight gain.

However, vitamin D, also produced in the skin by the action of sunlight, played no role, said the scientists.

Dr Richard Weller, from the University of Edinburgh, who took part in the Australian-led study, said: "We know from epidemiology studies that sun-seekers live longer than those who spend their lives in the shade. Studies such as this one are helping us to understand how the sun can be good for us.

"We need to remember that skin cancer is not the only disease that can kill us and should perhaps balance our advice on sun exposure."

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8 Surprising Ways To Lower Your Diabetes Risk

Drink Coffee(01 of08)

Go ahead and refill your cup. People who increased the amount of coffee they drank each day by more than one cup over a four-year period had an 11 percent lower risk for type 2 diabetes than those who made no changes to their coffee consumption, says a new study from Harvard School of Public Health. (credit:Flickr:yoppy)

Eat Nuts(02 of08)

Almonds, walnuts and other tree nuts, to be exact. Studies have shown that eating tree nuts frequently is associated with a reduced risk of developing diabetes. Even peanuts—classified as a legume, not a nut—can be beneficial. But frequent consumption doesn’t mean large amounts: keep the quantity to about a handful to avoid the calories from piling on. (credit:WikiMedia:)

Skip The Heavy Alcohol(03 of08)

Hold those multiple martinis. A new study suggests that binge drinking (consuming four alcoholic beverages within a two-hour time span for women and five for men) may increase the risk for developing type 2 diabetes by disrupting the effects of insulin in the brain. (credit:Getty)

Walk After You Eat(04 of08)

People who sit six to eight hours a day are 19 percent more likely to have diabetes, according to research in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. Something as small as a 15-minute walk a half hour after eating can lower your post-meal blood sugar levels for at least three hours.

And a new study published in the journal of the European Association for the Study of Disease shows that brief bursts of intense exercise before meals is a more effective way to control blood sugar than doing one longer workout during the day. (credit:Getty)

Lift Weights(05 of08)

Weight lifting or resistance training can keep blood sugar levels lower then even aerobic exercise can, according to a study out of the University of Ottawa. In fact, because of this increased evidence of resistance training’s health benefits, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) now recommends it for adults with type 2 diabetes. (An added plus: It also helps maintain muscle mass and speed metabolism, which naturally decline with age. with increased age.) (credit:Flickr:evilhayama)

Cut out sodas(06 of08)

Just drinking one or two sugar-sweetened (or non-diet) beverages a day can increase your risk of diabetes by 26 percent according to a Harvard School of Public Health review of studies. So ditch the soda and instead sip on green tea or seltzer flavored with unsweetened pomegranate or cranberry juice. (credit:Getty)

Eat Less Meat(07 of08)

Scientists from Harvard School of Public Health have found that higher consumption of red meat, especially processed meats may increase a woman’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A few marks against red meat: it’s a major source for saturated fat, cholesterol and animal protein. And processed meat fares even worse: it contains certain types of preservatives, additives and other chemicals which can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The study found that substituting meat with other foods, like whole grains, nuts, low-fat diary, fish and poultry could significantly lower diabetes risk. (credit:Flickr:ImpromptuKitchen)

Have More Citrus(08 of08)

A study from Preventive Medicine finds that oranges and orange juice can actually assist in the management of diabetes. And it’s not just oranges that help: grapefruits, lemons, lemons and other citrus fruits have protective powers. An earlier (animal) study found that citrus extracts have the ability to slow glucose uptake as well as inhibit its movement through the intestines and liver. (credit:WikiMedia:)

Previous studies in people have shown that nitric oxide can lower blood pressure after exposure to UV lamps.

Co-author Professor Martin Feelisch, from the University of Southampton, said: "These observations further indicate that the amounts of nitric oxide released from the skin may have beneficial effects not only on heart and blood vessels but also on the way our body regulates metabolism."

The research is published in the journal Diabetes.

uk lifestyle news Health Diabetes sunshine weight gain

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