Why do we need all that sunlight? The Spanish painter Joaquín Sorolla (1863-1923), not only knew how to capture the sunlight with his brush like few other painters, but he must have know subconsciously that working outside in bright sunlight will do wonders for his health and well being.
But of course not all of us live near the Mediterranean Sea all year round or can hop on a flight to the Maldives when we are craving sunshine.
IRMA has some ideas to get you happy and healthy with some golden rays even when days are short.
- Visit a museum and make sure you find a large painting by Sorolla. Open your eyes and take a deep breath, you will feel the rays of light, we promise. The most comprehensive collection of paintings by this Spanish master of light can be found at the Museo de Bellas Artes in Valencia, the artist’s hometown, and there is also a dedicated Sorolla Museum in Madrid, housed in his former studio-mansion.
- Take a weekend trip to a Mediterranean beach, find a place in the sunny dunes and enjoy a nap in the sun. What better way to escape the dreary, wet and grey Central and Northern European winter.
- Get your extra dose of vitamin D.
Vitamin D is often referred to as the “sunshine” vitamin because it is produced when your skin is exposed to the sun. So in autumn and winter, when there is often little sunshine, making sure you get enough vitamin D is essential for optimal health and taking a supplement may be the only way to do so. The current recommendation is 400-600 IU per day, and it is best taken with a spoon of flaxseed oil. - When the sun shines and it is cold outside, wear your favorite fur coat, sit in a calm corner on your balcony and let the sun infuse your naked body with pure, natural vitamin D, for at least 10 minutes. You may be surprised to hear that if you’re only exposing your face and hands, you will produce much less vitamin D. The same is true if you stay behind glass.
- Did you know that the inside of your wrist is the most sensitive part of your body for sunlight? So roll up your sleeves and turn your arms around when taking a sunbath.
- Very few foods are actually rich in vitamin D, mostly fatty fish like salmon, tuna, sardines or swordfish. The best dietary source of vitamin D is fish liver oil, which contains up two to times the daily value in a single tablespoon.