Free diet supplements falling from the sky... Enjoy them to the fullest now

On the 19th, heatwave warnings were issued for most areas except Jeju. The central region is expected to have no rain for the time being, with strong sunlight shining until next week. Make the most of such days. Sunlight is the best natural diet supplement.

The sun's diet effect is more remarkable than expected. It increases the energy expenditure of cells in the body. Recently, a research team led by Professors Jung Jin-ho and Lee Dong-ho from Seoul National University Hospital's Department of Dermatology conducted an animal experiment over 12 weeks, exposing subjects to ultraviolet rays three times a week to observe metabolic activity. As a result, mice exposed to ultraviolet rays showed decreased secretion of leptin, a hormone that suppresses appetite, leading to increased food intake due to heightened hunger. However, surprisingly, these mice lost more weight compared to mice that were not exposed to ultraviolet rays. The research team explained, "Mice exposed to ultraviolet rays had their white fat converted into brown fat, which is more active in energy metabolism," adding, "This is because ultraviolet exposure stimulates the release of norepinephrine." The body's fat tissue is divided into white fat, which stores energy, and brown fat, which consumes energy. An increase in brown fat results in higher energy expenditure even when eating a lot, preventing the accumulation of triglycerides. Norepinephrine is a metabolic hormone that activates physical activity, and when the team blocked norepinephrine production in mice exposed to ultraviolet rays, their weight increased despite sunlight exposure. The team stated, "We plan to conduct follow-up research to develop new treatment strategies for obesity and metabolic disorders by mimicking the metabolic regulatory effects of ultraviolet rays."

Sunlight exposure is also necessary to synchronize the biological clock, activating the secretion of melatonin, commonly known as the sleep hormone. According to research by Professor Amide Abdala's team at the Department of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Spain, melatonin has been found to increase brown adipose tissue and decrease white adipose tissue.

Vitamin D synthesized when exposed to sunlight also promotes weight loss. A joint research team from the University of Athens Medical School and Agia Sophia Children's Hospital in Greece studied the correlation between vitamin D and weight loss in 232 obese adolescents. The research team provided participants with vitamin D supplements for one year. After one year, analysis of the participants' vitamin D levels, body fat, liver function, and heart health revealed that adolescents taking vitamin D supplements experienced a significant reduction in body mass index and body fat. Additionally, cholesterol levels improved. The research team stated, "Vitamin D can be used in obesity treatment," and recommended exposing oneself to sunlight for 30 minutes 2-3 times a week or consuming vitamin D-rich foods such as mackerel and dairy products.

Meanwhile, ultraviolet rays accelerate skin aging, so excessive exposure should be avoided. During the hot summer when the sun is intense, it is advisable to avoid outdoor activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.