In men, the sun releases a hormone that makes you hungry, ghrelin. Explanations.
- According to ANSES, you should be exposed to the sun for 15 to 20 minutes a day, at the end of the morning or in the afternoon, to ensure that the body has a sufficient daily intake of vitamin D.
- There are four levels of sun protection: low (from 6 to 10), medium (from 15 to 25), high (from 30 to 50) and very high (over 50) protection.
300. This is the number of calories that men would eat more each day in summer compared to the rest of the year, according to a study published in the journal Nature Metabolism. And researchers at the University of Tel Aviv have found the reason: exposure to the sun releases a hormone responsible for the feeling of hunger in humans, ghrelin. A link that does not exist in women.
The estrogens involved
To achieve this result, the scientists conducted clinical trials during which the participants – male and female – were exposed to the sun for twenty-five minutes. Thus, they observed that the level of ghrelin increased in men but not in women.
But why such a difference between the sexes? Women produce a hormone called estrogen. This limits the increase in the level of ghrelin because it prevents the DNA present on the skin from being damaged in the sun. So, since women produce less ghrelin in the sun than men, they are less hungry!
Ghrelin protects against cardiovascular disease
But weight gain for men is not inevitable! Once this phenomenon is known, all you have to do is pay attention to your diet and respect the number of daily calories required: depending on his activity, an adult man must consume between 2,400 and 2,600 calories per day.
“Ghrelin may be the mechanical link between sun exposure and reduced cardiovascular disease”, says Carmit Levy, one of the authors and a professor in the Department of Human Molecular Genetics at Tel Aviv University. Indeed, apart from the feeling of hunger, ghrelin would also have benefits: reduction of blood pressure, inflammation and muscle wasting.
Enjoy the benefits of the sun while protecting yourself
Real benefits but which do not dispense with protecting yourself from the sun, especially during the summer months. L’Health Insurance recommends avoiding exposure between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., when the intensity of the rays is at its peak. And, whatever the time, always apply a suitable sunscreen to protect your skin.
