We're always hearing about how the sun is bad for you. Well, it need not be and here are eight reasons to get out in the sunshine...
Do you dive for cover as soon as the sun comes out? It wouldn't be surprising, given the number of bad news stories we hear about the way it winkles our faces and raises the risk of skin cancer.
Ofcourse, too much sun is a dangerous thing. But it would be a shame to spend the summer behind closed curtains because a little bit of sunshine really is good for us. Here are eight good reasons to get out in the sunshine...

Keeps your bones and teeth healthy
Sunshine is vital for healthy bodies. We need the sun to create vitimin D in our bodies. This vitimin helps us absorb calcium and phosphorus - both of which are vital for strong bones and teeth - and it also keeps our nervous system healthy, our heartbeat normal and helps our blood to clot.
Helps prevent cancer
The sunshine vitamin, vitamin D, helps our bodies make vitamin A, which boosts the immune system. This vitamin helps fight colds and infections, improves our vision and skin and, in high doses, has been shown to prevent cancer of the lungs, bladder and breasts.
Keeps us alert and happy
Ever wondered why you feel so cheery on a bright spring day? Well, it's because sunlight turns off our melatonin - the hormone that sends us off to sleep. We are programmed to be active by day and sleep at night, but melatonin levels are high on a dark day making us feel drowsy and depressed.

Keeps the heart healthy
A certain amount of ultraviolet light is thought to gaurd against heart disease. As well as reducing stress, it lowers blood pressure, and research suggests that it could reduce cholesterol and increase the heart's efficiency.
Is good for the skin
Ultraviolet light is an effective treatment for psoriasis and acne. We do have to be careful with the amount of exposure to the sun and calculate if the short-term gain is worth the long-term risk.
Our bodies get the right amount of vitamin D by baring our faces in the sun for half an hour at lunch time so anything else could be considered excessive, unless we use sun protection so to be in the sun for longer periods.
Makes us feel sexy
It's far easier to get turned on when the sun is out. Sunlight raises our sex hormone levels, we are wearing fewer clothes and we automatically feel more happy and relaxed. There can be no doubt the sun has a wonderful effect on our psyche.
It's far easier to get turned on when the sun is out. Sunlight raises our sex hormone levels, we are wearing fewer clothes and we automatically feel more happy and relaxed. There can be no doubt the sun has a wonderful effect on our psyche.
Expert view. - It is important to protect yourslef from too much sun, it is a shame when cancer fears mean people may miss out on the pleasures of baking in the sunshine. There is no reason why everyone shouldn't enjoy a beach holiday if they take reasonable precautions like staying out of the sun in the middle of the day and sitting in the shade under an umbrella reading a book. Lying in the sun is good for us psychologically and helps our bodies produce vitamin D. If you go on a beach holiday wear a factor 25 to start of with and reapply it when you get wet. And then you can brown safely.