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Sunlight Greetings, I hope that you all had a good week ! As we have seen last week, the beautiful colour of plants and flowers depend on the amount of sunshine they are exposed to. The colour of butterflies, birds and animals are also determined by light, as is their complete development. An example of this can be seen with the development of a tadpole. The process of metamorphosis is arrested if it is deprived of sunlight. It is unable to develop into a frog; rather it continuous to grow as a tadpole. Complete absence of light results in blindness and even eyelesness. Sunlight also enable the animal to body to assimilate calcium, and it is because of this that that it is of great value in the prevention of rickets and tuberculosis. A lack of calcium is associated with both these conditions. This assimilation of calcium may be observed by comparing chicken eggs of various birds. Those raised in the sunlight produce harder and thicker shells than those not so exposed. The influence of sunlight is also intimately related to the number of red cells and haemoglobin in the blood. An insufficiency of light will cause an increase in the serum or watery portion of the blood and a corresponding decrease in the quantity of blood fibrin and red corpuscles, resulting in anaemia. It has been shown that after a fast or a wasting illness, obtaining sufficient sunshine will enable the body to build higher quality flesh. It will also enable the body to most efficiently digest and assimilate food. This is not to imply that we should wait to become sick to make use of the sun’s rays. The sun is not a therapeutic agent; it is essential of good health and nutrition. We spoke earlier of the great importance sunlight plays in proper bone development. This is due to the fact that only through the aid of sunshine, particularly the ultraviolet rays, may the laying down and fixation of the calcium and phosphorus salts be accomplished in an ideal fashion as to make for the transformation of cartilage into bone. On the other hand, when insufficient sunlight is obtained, the result is defective, misshapen, brittle and easily broken bones, a condition known as rickets. Sunlight also proves invaluable in cases of glandular inactivity, favourably affecting irregularities of ovulation, pubertal difficulties and impotency. Acne, a condition representing a glandular disturbance of the skin, is also noticeably aided by sunlight, as is the condition of psoriasis. Also, as sunshine aids in increasing the coagulating power of the blood, it is of inestimable value to sufferers from uterine haemorrhage. Additionally, if cautiously applied, the sunbath can be very valuable in some nervous affections. Next week we will look at the benefits and dangers of sunbathing. Until then, Stay well and have a sunshine day, From The Crazy Nut team.