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As the days get colder, it's easy to hunker down and hole up inside. But what if we told you that staying inside all winter is one of the WORST things you could do for your health?
Really??
Yes, really.
Believe it or not, natural sunlight is one of the main foundations of our health and wellbeing.
How does sunlight heal?
Why is sunlight so important? To put it simply, at every moment the light is carrying a message, telling your body the time and season. This message signals your body to release hormones needed for that exact time of day and season. It also tells your organs when to work hard and when to slow down. (How awesome is that??)
Additionally, being outside in sunlight exposes you to healing red light and endorphin-producing wavelengths. It improves your mood, balances your hormones, mitigates the effects of blue light, and strengthens your mitochondria. Everything works together perfectly.
The trouble comes when we are spending most of our time inside. Our body is without these important signals… and, worse yet, is exposed to false light signals! This causes problems like:
a deficiency of melatonin or melatonin being released at the wrong time >> hello, sleep issues!
cortisol being released before bed instead of slowly rising in the morning >> here comes blood sugar problems & inflammation!
low serotonin and dopamine levels >> now we see those mental health issues!
digestion slowing down during the day and amping up at night >> and there's gut issues & weight gain!
Though we often take light for granted, it affects our bodies in nearly every way. Your menstrual cycles, your metabolism, your immune system, your ability to detox, your hydration levels, your mood, your pain levels, your energy…all are inescapably bound to the light that reaches your eyes.
So as the days turn darker and colder, let's focus on going outside and getting pure sunlight into our eyes. Let's resist the urge to hibernate indoors, and instead embrace the change of seasons. We'll be sharing a roadmap for how to get the right light signals in our modern world, but for now…
Put on three coats, if you must!
Pull out those dorky snow pants.
And just get out there!
Check out more blog posts on circadian rhythms and healing with sunlight here!
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