Even though the temperatures in the UAE have been pleasant for the past few weeks, forecasters are warning that summer is on the way. As baking temperatures return, we will be left to move from one air-conditioned space to another, be it home, car or shopping mall. This is also the natural time when many retreat from active outdoor lifestyles to more sedentary activities, such as being perched on the sofa and staring at the television.
But the summer months do not necessarily mean that we should remain trapped indoors. Experts say that as long as we take precautions, it is feasible to safely indulge in some outdoor activities and that there are health benefits from doing so. It is well known that in high-latitude countries, the winter months are associated with lethargy, melancholy, carbohydrate craving, incoherent thinking and unsociability.
Paradoxically, similar symptoms can occur in the UAE for residents who avoid the summer heat by staying indoors, leading to a high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in one of the world’s sunniest climates. Exposure to sunshine has been linked to lower levels of ailments like osteoporosis, diabetes, and some forms of cancer. As summer approaches, we ought to find sun-smart ways of being outside.