The importance of happiness, laughter and vitamin D for our health

3. Activate the cuddle hormone

Have you already cuddled, kissed or hugged someone today? Physical contact is an important factor when it comes to our feelings of happiness. Physical touch prompts our brains to release oxytocin, which is a hormone that makes us very happy because it gives us feelings of love and comfort while at the same time counteracting stress.

Studies on the topic of oxytocin have shown:

• When couples hug for just 20 seconds, their levels of oxytocin rise.
• Although the release of the hormone normally occurs as a response to physical contact in positive relationships, a feeling of closeness can to a certain extent be produced by receiving a massage treatment.
• Your cuddle partner doesn't necessarily have to be a human being: we also produce oxytocin when we pet animals – especially dogs.

4. Soak up the sun – the right way

It's an indescribably good feeling when the sun is finally shining again after a long period of wet and cold weather. We automatically feel a compulsion to head straight outside. But why is that?

Vitamin D has an effect on our mental wellbeing
When the sun shines on your skin, your body produces vitamin D. Not only is this vitamin important for healthy bones and teeth, but it also has a big impact on our mental wellbeing. In short, vitamin D plays an important role for certain neurotransmitters that have an impact on our mood and enjoyment of life and how we deal with stress.

In regard to mental wellbeing, a vitamin D deficiency is primarily expressed through:

• Mood swings
• Concentration problems
• Drops in performance
• Sleep issues
  
  

How to increase your vitamin D levels
While sunshine is important for our feelings of happiness, the associated UV radiation is harmful to our skin. According to the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), here's the correct way to soak up some sun: It's recommended that in the summer months you expose yourself to 30 minutes of sun in the morning or 10 minutes in the afternoon – wearing short sleeves and without sun cream. That's how you can get enough vitamin D without getting a sun burn.

Preventing vitamin D deficiency
In winter, on the other hand, there isn't enough sunshine in our part of the world for sufficient vitamin D production. It's true that we can store a certain amount of vitamin D in our bodies. But during the darker seasons of the year, when the sun is weak and we spend too much time indoors, these stores are quickly depleted. "According to the FOPH, in winter, 60% of the Swiss population has an insufficient supply of vitamin D," explains Dr Silke Schmitt Oggier. The Medical Director of Telemedicine at santé24 explains in this article in the SWICA customer magazine how you can prevent a vitamin D deficiency and what role nutrition plays in this.

For additional tips on how you can become happier, check out this health tip.