The Benefits of Morning Sunlight on Health and Wellbeing
According to Dr. Hyman, getting sunlight in the morning is crucial for regulating cortisol levels and maintaining a balanced internal clock. This simple habit helps train your body to stay calm, clear-headed, and focused throughout the day.
Exposing ourselves to natural light early in the day helps regulate our internal clock, ensuring our system stays balanced from day to night and season to season.
The Power of Daylight
Daylight contains infrared light which has numerous benefits for our health. It can modulate inflammation, stimulate collagen production, prevent neurodegeneration, and optimize mitochondria function for energy production in our cells. Essentially, exposing ourselves to daylight is like turning on our own natural red light lamp, all for free.
Nutrition expert, Beatriz Larrea, explains that infrared and red light are essential components of solar radiation present in daylight. These energies support vital functions such as melatonin production, leptin regulation, and cortisol levels, all crucial for metabolism, aging, sleep, energy, and overall health.
Our body’s circadian rhythm, controlled by the central clock, is heavily influenced by natural light. This internal clock governs all biochemical functions in our body, regulated by hormones. Light signals from our environment, particularly sunlight, play a key role in setting the rhythm for essential bodily functions.
As the sun rises, our body releases cortisol, and as it sets, it triggers the release of melatonin. This pattern of light and dark signals our body to regulate hormone secretion, impacting various aspects of our health including weight, sleep, energy, hunger, and mental function.
Embracing the Light
Given the importance of natural light on our health and wellbeing, it’s essential to make the most of morning sunlight. By incorporating this simple habit into our daily routine, we can enhance our overall quality of life.
Furthermore, exploring other ways to optimize our relationship with light can further improve our health and vitality. Rediscovering the power of natural light and its impact on our body’s internal clock can lead to a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.