14 DAY TRIAL // Intensive care patients survive for longer if they are exposed to natural sunlight, a group of experts from the Tel Aviv University (TAU) Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sheba Medical Center found out in a recent investigation.
It is known that the human skin produces important amounts of vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. The chemical apparently has a number of benefits on the human body, promoting overall health.
During the TAU investigation, experts learned that patients with sufficient amounts of vitamin D in their bodies lived for up to 9 days longer in ICU than those who exhibited deficiencies. Importantly, it was found that vitamin D concentrations were tied to patients' white blood cell counts.
The team suggests that people should ensure that their bodies always have the optimal level of vitamin D. The chemical can be found in food such as fish, or can be produced naturally by the body. Ten minutes of exposure to sunlight daily are enough to produce all the vitamin D the body needs over 24 hours, PsychCentral reports.