Spending time in the summer sun isn’t just fun and recreational…

It’s also a great way to power up your health, as long as you’re cautious.

Time in the sun contributes to the amount of vitamin D in your body — the nutrient necessary for health processes that help delay frailty and guard against dementia, ramp up the immune system, promote youthful testosterone production and increase the odds you’ll live longer.

It’s also vital to supporting a healthy heart.

And now there’s one more reason to get your time in the sun — the ability to ramp up your metabolism…

UV exposure and the browning of fat

Previous studies on the effects of UV exposure on obesity and metabolic disorders have demonstrated that although UV rays do not directly reach subcutaneous fat when exposed to the skin, they can regulate fat metabolism.

So scientists at Seoul National University Hospital decided to dive into the deep end and see just exactly what processes those UV rays are capable of kicking off…

To do so, the team used two groups of mice — one fed a normal diet and one on a high-fat diet — exposing the power of ultraviolet radiation.

They discovered that even though both groups exhibited an increased appetite due to a decrease in leptin, the satiety hormone, neither of the groups gained an ounce!

According to the team, this is because UV radiation also enhances the secretion of norepinephrine — which increases energy expenditure through the “browning” of subcutaneous fat.

In other words, it turns white fat that does nothing more than accumulate around your hips, thighs and middle, into calorie-burning beige fat.

This means that even if you continue eat at your normal level, maybe more, your body burns it off before it can find its way to your waist.

“Notably, the fact that UV radiation lowers leptin levels and increases norepinephrine, thereby promoting the browning of subcutaneous fat and increasing energy expenditure, provides a groundbreaking clue for the development of obesity treatment strategies,” said Lead investigator Jin Ho Chung, MD, PhD.

Burn the calories, not your skin

This isn’t the first study to link sunlight to weight. Researchers from the University of Alberta found that the fat cells just beneath your skin shrink when they’re exposed to the sun.

So if you want to turn your own body into a calorie-burning machine with more beige fat, make sure to get enough time outside.

Just be sure to strike the right balance…

Too much sun can harm your skin. And even though this study focuses on UV rays, consolidated evidence from existing research supports the role of vitamin D in regulating adipose tissue (white fat) and obesity prevention.

Another found that “high-dose vitamin D increased sensitivity to leptin without significantly affecting the amount of leptin produced per fat mass. This increased leptin sensitivity did not alter appetite but did increase fat free mass adjusted energy expenditure.”

When choosing a vitamin D supplement, be sure you look for one that contains D3, the most bioavailable form of the nutrient and the one that’s already stored in our bodies. Vitamin D3 is almost twice as effective as vitamin D2 at raising vitamin D levels.

Be sure to dose adequately. Vitamin D is not a one-size-fits-all vitamin.

Sources:

UV Light Increases Appetite But Suppresses Weight Gain – NeuroscienceNews.com

Vitamin D – Mayo Clinic

Vitamin D supplements may benefit heart health, research finds – Medical News Today

Vitamin D and Male Erectile Function: An Updated Review – NIH

Low Vitamin D Levels and Frailty Status in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis – NIH

CAN SUNLIGHT MAKE YOU SKINNY? – Easy Health Options