Having just returned from a week's break in Cyprus feeling rested, refreshed and revitalised, it got me thinking about the health benefits of regular holidays in these hectic 21st century days.
Does your body have different needs from a vacation at different stages of our lives? From the endless selection of destinations and activities now available, should the riper generation make alternative choices?
Much has been written about the detrimental effects of sun exposure but actually the damage is caused by the UVA rays and the UVB rays have many health benefits, some of which are especially good for the more mature. Such as:
So a holiday somewhere sunny is good for you, as long as you protect yourself from the harmful UVA rays. That's not exactly news but it is important to up the sunscreen protection factor as your skin gets thinner and often more sensitive as we age. Remember that factor 2 of the 70s?! For my sun sensitive skin I never go below factor 15 and reapply regularly. There are few lotions that I can use but Simple is the best for me, with Boots No 7 and Piz Buin Allergy being next choice.
But it's not just the sun that does you good. A break from the normal routine, especially if you have a stressful job, look after grandchildren or just get ground down by the annoyances of modern life, can really enhance your well being because:
Does your body have different needs from a vacation at different stages of our lives? From the endless selection of destinations and activities now available, should the riper generation make alternative choices?
Much has been written about the detrimental effects of sun exposure but actually the damage is caused by the UVA rays and the UVB rays have many health benefits, some of which are especially good for the more mature. Such as:
- Enhancing mood and energy through the release of endorphins
- Protecting against and suppressing symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Treating skin diseases, such as psoriasis, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, and scleroderma.
- Enhancing skin barrier functions
- Inducing nitric oxide (NO), which helps protect your skin against UV damage and offers cardiovascular protection, promotes wound healing through its antimicrobial effect, and has some anti-cancer activity
- Melatonin regulation through the pineal gland photoreceptors
- Relieving fibromyalgia pain
- Treating Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Synchronizing important biorhythms
So a holiday somewhere sunny is good for you, as long as you protect yourself from the harmful UVA rays. That's not exactly news but it is important to up the sunscreen protection factor as your skin gets thinner and often more sensitive as we age. Remember that factor 2 of the 70s?! For my sun sensitive skin I never go below factor 15 and reapply regularly. There are few lotions that I can use but Simple is the best for me, with Boots No 7 and Piz Buin Allergy being next choice.
But it's not just the sun that does you good. A break from the normal routine, especially if you have a stressful job, look after grandchildren or just get ground down by the annoyances of modern life, can really enhance your well being because:
- Fresh air increases oxygen in our blood and so gives us more energy
- Play and relaxation decrease tension, so go with your nearest and dearest and have fun!
- Freedom to do whatever you want when you want without the restrictions of schedules or the daily grind is hugely liberating.
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| Cuba 2013 |
