Endurance And The Sunlight Connection

by Rick Mattoon

For millions of years, life on earth has evolved around the constant influence of the sun. Without it, life would cease to exist.

As humans, we've always had an intimate connection--both emotionally and physically. The sun provides us with warmth and daylight as well as a means to gauge time. And now, thanks to scientific research, more and more of us are realizing the wonderful benefits of moderate, sensible, and responsible exposure to the sun.

Since the early 1900s, American researchers have been reporting a positive relationship between moderate, sensible and responsible exposure to ultraviolet light and physical and mental endurance. This relationship may be made possible by the enhanced activity of Tyrosine--an amino acid--utilized in the first steps of the tanning process. Tyrosine is the necessary amino acid essential for the production of melanin, or pigment, during tanning.

This potential relationship first was reported by Allen and Cureton in a 1945 issue of Archives of Physical Medicine. For 10 weeks, the researchers gave male students at the University of Illinois treatments of ultraviolet light. At the end of the 10-week period, when compared to students who did not receive the treatments, a marked improvement of "overall performance of physical fitness" was noted.

The students receiving the treatments also "showed a greater interest in their classwork and attended more frequently." The participants subjected to ultraviolet therapy reported that they "felt they had received a great deal of help from the treatments."

Additionally, a 1972 published report by A. Goldman discussed the effects of continuous and impulse ultraviolet radiation therapy in health treatments of patients with hypertension and chronic coronary insufficiencies.

Goldman reported the results of combined sunlight and exercise, "showed that a group that was getting the sunlight treatments with exercise, had improved almost twice as much, as shown by their electrocardiograms, as had those who had only exercised, even though both groups were on a general health treatment program."

The Building Blocks

All life on earth is made from proteins. At first glance it might seem quite restrictive to be limited to only 22 amino acids in the formation of all proteins that are possible. However, we should remember that the order of the amino acids and the number of amino acids is completely adjustable.

For example, think of all the words that can be made with only 26 letters. Then consider all the sentences and paragraphs that can be made by joining the words into sentences and the sentences into paragraphs. Each protein contains thousands of amino acids. If the amino acids were letters, each one would correspond to one or more pages in a book. Of all the books in the library, no two books will have any two pages the same. Yet, only 26 letters are required. This is the versatility of the amino acid chemistry of the proteins.

Tyrosine is found naturally in the body and its main purpose is to support the formation of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. For tyrosine to properly convert to these substances there must be adequate amounts of vitamin B6, as well as other vitamins and minerals typically found in a well-balanced diet.

Neurotransmitters are important because they carry "messages" from one nerve cell to another and play a vital role in our muscular function. Messages sent from the brain to a muscle, for example, telling it to contract or relax are sent via neurotransmitters. A loss in these neurotransmitters can lead to physical and mental burnout and fatigue, as well as depression.

Enhanced Neurotransmitters

The stress of everyday life can lead to burnout and depression. Researchers believe that the main cause of this depression or mental fatigue is directly related to decreased levels of dopamine, norepinephrine and other neurotransmitters in the brain.

They believe that the body's production and use of tyrosine can enhance the life of these compounds and naturally relieve everyday symptoms of mental and physical burnout. This positive effect can lead to better workouts and increased productivity on an everyday basis. Since tyrosine is found to enhance the production of neurotransmitters, it routinely is attributed to the easing of fatigue and mental breakdown that can occur during a hectic schedule or after an unusually difficult workout.

Tyrosine And Your Thyroid

The thyroid gland is the biggest gland in the neck situated in the front of the neck below the skin and muscle layers. The thyroid gland is shaped like a butterfly with the two wings being represented by the left and right thyroid lobes that wrap around the trachea or windpipe. Its main function is to make thyroid hormone, which has an effect on nearly all tissues of the body.

Tyrosine is used by the thyroid gland to produce the thyroid hormone, Thyroxin. This hormone regulates growth rate, metabolic rate, skin health and mental health. It is used in the treatment of anxiety, depression, allergies and headaches. Therefore, function of the thyroid is to regulate the body's metabolism.

Endurance And Tanning

Since the first studies showing positive correlations between mental and physical endurance and sunlight exposure, significant research has helped drive the link between moderate, sensible and responsible tanning and our well-being.

The increased activity of tyrosine during the tanning process, the relationship between tyrosine and important brain neurotransmitters and past studies showing the positive effects of ultraviolet therapy on physical and mental endurance seems to point to an encouraging theory.

Even with research continuing on this topic, doctors continue to treat patients with supplemental amounts of tyrosine for stress, low moods and depression. Although there are no definitive studies showing what doses of tyrosine are most useful, your own personal needs should be evaluated by a physician for contraindications and effectiveness.

For the best results in enhancing mental and physical endurance, a combined approach appears to be the most sensible. This may involve an overall improvement in dietary habits, regular exercise approved by your physician and, according to past research, moderate, sensible and responsible exposure to ultraviolet light if your skin type permits it.

Indoor Lighting Isn't Enough

Since sunlight, containing ultraviolet, has been proven to be beneficial in the studies mentioned, there must be some adverse effects to living and working in environments consisting totally of typical indoor lighting.

The typical indoor environment is illuminated by approximately 600 to 700 lux, while the brightness of a summer day may reach 100,000 lux. Also, the spectral components of sunlight are vastly different from those of typical indoor lighting--the kind that is found in virtually all homes, factories and offices.

With this in mind, Dr. John Ott, a photobiologist, says, "Ultraviolet light is a nutrient, just like a vitamin or a mineral. There really should be a recommended daily allowance (RDA) for UV light--just as there is for vitamin C."

Due to photosensitivity, skin typing or other variables that lower a person's tolerance to UV light, not everyone is able to enjoy the potential benefits of sunlight. However, with the hundreds of medical studies done on the health benefits of ultraviolet light, it is exciting to find that something as simple and abundant as sunlight and UV can have such wonderful potential in just the right amounts.

So what are you waiting for? Whether you receive your dose of ultraviolet light at your local tanning salon or outdoors at the beach, your body will reap the rewards.