The benefits of sunbathing or standing in the sun, always in a moderate way and with due protection, are known. Exposing ourselves to the sun’s rays is a simple and natural way to obtain the vitamin D that the body needs for its proper development. A few minutes of enjoying the sun also has a pleasant, relaxing effect that contributes to our general well-being. But does standing in the sun burn calories?
Does standing in the sun burn calories?
Whether sunbathing makes you lose weight or not is what a study carried out by a group of experts from the Neurology and Preventive Medicine departments at Northwestern University (Chicago, Illinois, United States) has tried to determine. If you are still enjoying the sun in these last days of summer, in this article, we will tell you what the star king can do (and what not) when it comes to helping you lose extra kilos. Keep reading: Does ultrasonic cavitation work?
Before knowing if sunbathing makes you lose weight, we must clarify that maintaining an adequate weight depends on achieving a good balance between the calories ingested and those expended. There are no ‘miracles. Exercise, along with a healthy diet, is the best way to avoid being overweight and obese. Even so, other factors could promote weight loss, such as the increase in body temperature that implies exposure to the sun.
The greater or lesser exposure to sunlight influences our biological ‘clock’ and our hours of sleep. The study above attempts to establish the possible relationship between these two variables, sunlight (intensity and exposure time) and sleep, with weight gain or loss in adults, thus opening up new and interesting lines of thought investigation.
There is a belief that sunbathing speeds up the metabolism and, therefore, could help burn fat. Still, it cannot be stated in a generalized way because several factors influence the metabolic process. For example, it is not the same to exercise in the sun ( sunbathing could increase the caloric expenditure involved in physical activity ) and lie down in a hammock to enjoy the sun’s rays.
How to lose weight in the sun?
The study above points to the possible relationship between sun exposure and the increase or decrease in the Body Mass Index. The research indicates that this ‘slimming effect’ is more evident when sunbathing during the first hours of the day because it is when we can receive more amount of blue light (that of shorter wavelength), that most influences our circadian rhythm and our metabolism.
If you want to see the benefits of the sun when it comes to losing weight, try enjoying its rays before noon and for a time that ranges between 1 and 2 hours. Of course, remember that, although the sun seems harmless, it is essential to use sunscreen according to your skin type. In addition, it is important to maintain proper hydration by ingesting a sufficient amount of fluids, preferably water.
Finally, we must remember that the idea that sweating makes you lose weight is not entirely true since when we sweat, what we eliminate are mainly water and minerals (electrolytes), not fat. Therefore, sweating while we sunbathe is not indicative of weight loss and, thus, it is advisable to exercise outdoors in the sun to increase the burning of calories and lose weight.
How many calories do you burn in the sun?
It is impossible to determine the number of calories you can eliminate in the sun because, as indicated, the sun is only one factor that can help you achieve your goal. Suppose we accept that the heat of its rays helps accelerate the metabolism and, therefore, burn fat. In that case, its action will influence when it comes to getting rid of extra calories, although their number will depend on the activity you do while sunbathing.
Going for a run, doing a hiking route, practising rowing, surfing or paddle tennis enjoying the first rays of the morning sun can be an excellent option to burn a good amount of calories with the sun as your best ally. If you take a well-deserved rest in the form of sun exposure after your morning exercise, perhaps, without knowing it, you are losing kilos most pleasantly. Why not try?
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