The practice of viewing sunlight throughout the day is a key component for human health and fitness and is scientifically supported to provide us with a range of physiological benefits.
Exposing ourselves to natural light outside (even briefly) at key points in the day, eg: morning, midday and early evening helps synchronise our "circadian clock" with the natural 24-hour cycle of the sun. The circadian clock....
The circadian clock is our bodies internal time of day measurement system that relies on the communication between light into the eyes and tissues deep within us to initiate wake and sleep cycles and is a major regulator of almost every aspect of body function. The visual experience of changes in daylight and actual darkness at night, effectively produce, regulate and program key hormones such as cortisol and melatonin, (more on this particularly impressive hormone in a future post!) as well as major neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. Having these systems running optimally by exposing ourselves to light appropriate for the time of day provides significant benefits to our mental well being, our metabolic functionality, and has a huge influence on one of the main pillars of human health.......that is sleep quality and duration. Sun light exposure and circadian rhythm alignment has also been shown to activate the production of testosterone and growth hormone, both key components in muscle growth, recovery and reproductive fitness. Our circadian clock and cancer.....
Studies have shown that our circadian clock has a close relationship with our bodies cell cycle, involving DNA repair and a mechanism called "apoptosis" (programed cell death of dysfunctional cells). This is the system that we rely on to keep our cellular health in check and to deny the possible development of tumours. Dysregulation of this system has been correlated with a range of cancers, so much so that methods of circadian realignment and entrainment are being discussed as viable treatments. (see link at bottom ) Final thought....
As humans, we evolved as creatures that existed outside and as a result our physiology relies on that environmental condition and the connection to the solar cycle to enable it to function optimally. It is something we have become disconnected with in modern times . These days being indoors and exposed to artificial light at inappropriate times obscures the natural boundaries of night and day and comes at a cost to our human health. In addition to cancer, a range of physiological maladies, ranging from metabolic and immune dysfunction to mental disorders have been linked with this incongruence of light and time of day. It is something we have literally lost sight of. But all is not lost! And there is an easy fix. Get yourself out there in that light when you can, even briefly.... for 10, 20 mins. Get it into your eyes, time stamp your day in alignment with the solar cycle and receive the activation of those beneficial mechanisms that make us who we evolved to be and further optimise your human health and fitness. Love, always. Steven
Some sources below:
Circadian rhythm disruption and mental health https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-020-0694-0
Roles of circadian clocks in cancer pathogenesis and treatment
https://www.nature.com/articles/s12276-021-00681-0
https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2018/targeting-circadian-clock-cancer
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