“Getting sunlight in the morning ensures cortisol peaks when energy is needed and decreases its levels when it is time to relax,” Hyman explains. “This simple habit of getting sunlight in the morning helps train your body to be calm, clear-headed, and focused.”
In other words, exposing ourselves to natural light early in the day helps regulate our internal clock so that our system stays balanced from day to night, winter to spring.
The importance of daylight
The infrared light found in daylight can modulate inflammation, stimulate collagen production, prevent neurodegeneration, and even optimize mitochondria, which produce energy inside our cells. Thus, we can think of exposing ourselves to daylight first thing in the morning as akin to turning on our own personal, natural red light lamp. For free, no less.
“Infrared light and red light are the basis of solar radiation,” explains nutrition expert Beatriz Larrea. “These energies are present in daylight throughout the day, supporting vital functions such as melatonin production, leptin regulation (crucial in appetite regulation), and cortisol levels. For optimum metabolism, aging, sleep, energy, and health, it’s important that we rediscover our relationship with natural light.”
As mentioned, that all-important internal clock, also known as the body’s circadian rhythm, is heavily influenced by natural light. “Our whole body is governed by a central clock and several peripheral clocks,” Larrea notes. “These clocks set in motion all the biochemical functions of the body that are led by messengers called hormones. And hormones regulate absolutely everything in our body: weight, sleep, energy, hunger, sexuality, mental agility, muscle function… The central clock is the one that starts or stops everything in the body and receives environmental signals so it knows what to do. The most important signal? Light.”
There’s a reason we wake up in the morning and get sleepy at night: Sunrise and sunset guide our circadian rhythms. “The sun rises and are body releases cortisol. The sun goes down and gives the order to secrete melatonin,” Larrea explains. “And so it is with all hormones: They are released according to the rhythm in our body which is driven by the light and dark patterns of the environment.”
Live in the light
With this in mind, it’s no wonder that taking advantage of the light first thing in the morning can be a huge boon to our wellbeing. And, it may be a good idea to rediscover other ways to further improve our relationship with the light as well.
