utubets.com

YouTube transcript

What If You Stopped Going Outside?

Languages available: cs nl en en-CA fr el id ko fa pt-BR ru es-MX es-MX

transcript:
Let's be honest: a lot of us sit inside...all day. Whether it's for work or to binge on the newest TV series, we simply aren't outside very often. But, what would happen if you stopped going outside all together? 149,600,000 km away sunlight is being ejected from the sun, shooting across the solar system, through our atmosphere, and if the timing is right, landing directly on your skin. Feels good, doesn't it? And it's this sunlight that begins an amazing chain reaction, which helps to sustain your life: The 'Sunshine Vitamin' -- Vitamin D that is. Interestingly, some of the cholesterol you consume is altered and stored in your skin. And when that well-travelled Ultra Violet B sunlight hits your skin, it modifies this cholesterol. The new molecule travels through the bloodstream to the liver, where it is altered again, and then to the kidney, where it is biologically 'activated'. This activated Vitamin D works to absorb calcium from your food, ultimately leading to bone growth and strength. In a way, your skin eats the sun and the sun grows your bones! Perhaps we aren't so different from plants. Without Vitamin D, your body would not only suffer decreased mineralization of your bones, leading to diseases like osteoporosis, but also see a decrease in immune function. Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that Vitamin D helps prevent cancer, heart disease and depression. Which may explain why those in colder climates with less daylight often experience the "Winter Blues". But it's not just sunlight and Vitamin D that makes the difference. Many studies have shown that being in nature can have a mental and physical effect on the body. While using sophisticated brain-imaging techniques, brains in nature showed more activity in the regions associated with stability, empathy and love. On the other hand, viewing man-made environments produced activity in the regions associated with fear and stress. On top of it all, if you are often inside, chances are you're sitting down. Admit it, you've been lounging, watching YouTube for hours. Which may seem harmless, but studies have shown major health effects linked to sitting time, such as an increase in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease . Furthermore, a study of more than 200,000 people found a strong correlation between mortality and increased sitting time -- in other words, the longer you sit, the more likely you are to die prematurely. The scariest part is that this is regardless of your physical activity. So stand up, get outside, and live a little...longer than you would have. After subscribing to our channel and watching all the videos, that is. This episode of AsapSCIENCE is supported by squarespace.com. Squarespace is the all in on platform that makes it fast and easy to create your own professional website or online portfolio. You can create a website in just a few minutes using one of their beautiful template designs. Squarespace also has drag and drop tools so you can customize everything about your site, like colours and layout with just a few clicks. And if you need extra help, squarespace has an amazing support team available 24/7. For a free trial and 10% off go to squarespace.com and use the offer code asap8. Thanks again to squarespace.com for supporting AsapSCIENCE, and subscribe for more weekly science videos.