The Many Benefits of Safe Sun Exposure!

Many people know that the mid-day sun exposure stimulates Vitamin D production which is critical for overall health and wellness.    However, most people are not aware that the other portions of the sun’s energy spectrum are also critical for robust health and wellness!     

There are five key practices to harness the tremendous benefits of the sun:

Go outside as soon as possible after waking up to expose your eyes to the high levels of blue light from the sun.

Get adequate Mid-Day Sun exposure on as much skin as possible to optimize Vitamin D production.  

Do NOT let your skin get burned so consider your skin type and start with low exposures to mid-day sun (5 minutes) and gradually increase time.    For an excellent guide to sun exposure based on skin type and your location click here to this previous blogpost:  https://workoutanytime.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-facts-on-safe-sun-exposure-and.html 

Get adequate morning and late afternoon sun exposure to expose your body, eyes and brain to the highest levels of Near Infrared Rays from the Sun.

Minimize light exposure and particularly blue light exposure in the evening

Waking Sun Exposure and Circadian Rhythm and Sleep Quality

Many people are aware that evening and night light exposure can really hurt your sleep.   However, what most people do not know is that early morning sunlight/blue light exposure is just as important to setting your body’s circadian rhythm and getting a good night’s sleep!   

Human beings have been on the earth for hundreds of thousands of years and until very recently we got early morning sun exposure every single day as soon as we woke up.    The sun emits high quantities of blue light.

The key to setting our daily rhythm is high levels of bright blue light in the morning and low to no levels of blue light in the evening and before bed!

Indoor lights do not pack nearly the punch of outdoor sunlight – even on an overcast day.    Brightness levels are measured in “lux”, and on a bright sunny day the outdoor lux levels are over 100,000 lux!   You may also see the term “lumens”, and 1 lux = 1 lumen per square meter so they can be used somewhat interchangeably.  Even on a very overcast day outdoor light levels are close to 2,000 lux.   In contrast - the average well-lit home indoor lux levels are somewhere between 100 – 500 lux so MUCH lower than outdoor sunlight!   

Even 5 minutes of exposure to morning sunlight on a bright day is sufficient to help your sleep and energize you in the morning!   On overcast days try to get 10 – 15 minutes of outdoor light – you can have your coffee outside!    

During winter months it is well worth considering purchasing a high lux light – needs to be at least 10,000 lux to be effective and there should be zero UV light emitted.     Here is an excellent unit:  https://www.amazon.com/Carex-Day-Light-Classic-Bright-Therapy/dp/B00PCN4UVU/ref=psdc_13053141_t4_B078KFCN1N

Sunlight and Vitamin D

Vitamin D is produced by the UVB rays emitted by the Sun and these levels are highest during mid-day sun and depending on your skin type, time of year and where you live you need to spend anywhere from 5 – 30 minutes with plenty of your skin exposed to achieve the Vitamin D boosting effects.   To learn more about this check out this previous blog post on safe and effective sun exposure:   http://workoutanytime.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-facts-on-safe-sun-exposure-and.html

Morning and Late Afternoon Sun Exposure

Another important portion of the Sun’s Spectrum is infrared and near infrared light (NIR) which we experience as heat.    In particular near infrared light has been proven to provide tremendous health boosting effects.     Fortunately – the near infrared portion of the sun’s rays makes up 40% of the output and near infrared is highest in the morning and late afternoon.

Whenever you feel heat from the sun you know you are getting infrared and near infrared exposure and unlike UV light near infrared cannot damage skin and goes through single layers of clothing easily.    In fact, near infrared can actually penetrate through the skull into the upper meninges of the brain with some big benefits!

Benefits of Near Infrared Exposure

There are big benefits to Near Infrared because NIR directly stimulates increased energy production from the mitochondria in our cells which are responsible for almost all the energy in our bodies. 

As the mitochondria increase energy output they also generate melatonin!   Melatonin is not just important for stimulating our sleep cycle – it has many other powerful benefits.

Melatonin has been shown to have antioxidant and anticancer effects, to play a role in the regulation of blood pressure and glucose levels, is highly anti-inflammatory, and has also been shown to lower the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality.

Melatonin exists in two main forms within the body – circulatory melatonin, which is produced by the pineal gland and has its major effect on sleep and the circadian rhythm, and subcellular melatonin, which is produced and used locally by the mitochondria within our cells.

Sunshine is our major source of infrared and NIR light, but it can also come from exposure to fire (campfire, candle flames, fireplace, etc.) and certain types of light bulbs.   Here is a great video showing exactly how this production of melatonin produces its many benefits:     https://youtu.be/sNklS0lzlgA   

Near Infrared Maximized by Plants

While direct sunlight exposure is great – you can actually magnify near infrared exposure by walking in and around plants!    Green leaves strongly reflect NIR – checkout this NIR camera photo to appreciate just how much NIR plants can give off:  http://www.idahoairships.com/idaho-airships-envira-nir-gallery-working-2_19-31/

NIR in Winter

To get the benefits of NIR during winter months you can use a infrared/near infrared sauna or use a high quality Near Infrared Bulb.    Here is an excellent example:   https://www.amazon.com/TheraBulb-NIR-Near-Infrared-Bulb/dp/B01855YCXM

Minimizing Blue Light Exposure at Night

During the evening and night-time hours it is critical to reduce overall light exposure and specifically blue light exposure to allow the Pineal Gland to release melatonin.    

Here are some key steps you can take to minimize blue light at night:

Reduce the light levels in your home by using dimmers or just turning off lights.  

Minimize your exposure to TV – particularly in the hour before going to sleep.

Minimize use of your phone and computer

Install a redlight filter like the free Twilight App for your phone and the free flux program on your laptop to reduce blue light output based on time of day so that during evening and night hours you get less blue light exposure!

Replace regular night lights and bedroom bulbs with redlight bulbs – true redlight does NOT interfere with sleep or melatonin release they way Blue Light does.    In addition, it does not interrupt night vision.  Here is a great product that you can also travel with:   https://shoptruelight.com/product/truelight-luna-red-portable-nightlight/

You can also try blue light blocking glasses which are available on Amazon. 

Keep your room as dark as possible when sleeping and/or consider buying a comfortable pair of sleeping mask which blocks all light.

Take Home Message

Sun exposure is part of our evolutionary heritage and you NEED regular sunlight optimize your health and wellness.       To see an excellent in depth review of the research on the concepts mentioned in this blogpost click here:   https://youtu.be/5YV_iKnzDRg

The Ideal Supplement for Anxiety, Sleep and Stress!

 

What if someone told you there was an inexpensive nutrition supplement proven to be completely safe that has solid research proving that it can:

Immediately and dramatically reduce anxiety with zero sedation or side effects.

Improves mental focus and concentration.

Quickly reduces the stress hormone cortisol.

Reduces Beta Brain Waves associated with anxiety and fear.

Increases Alpha Brain Waves associated with relaxation and meditation.

Proven to offset stress induced Immune Suppression.

Improves Sleep:

Decreases time to fall asleep.

Decreases night-time awakenings.

Increases the amount of Deep, Restorative Sleep.

Improves Memory and Mental Capacity.

Sound too good to be true?   It’s NOT!

How Does Pharmagaba Work?

Pharmagaba is a unique, patented form of GABA that crosses the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB for short).     GABA is a neurotransmitter that that balances out the excitatory neurotransmitters like Norepinephrine aka noradrenalin.

Although GABA supplements have been around for a while regular GABA supplements are completely ineffective because they do not cross the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB).   The BBB is exactly what it sounds like – a chemical gateway designed to protect the brain from toxins and infections.

Unlike regular GABA supplements Pharmagaba crosses the BBB!   This allows it to quickly change your mental state from a sympathetic dominant state to a parasympathetic state.      A sympathetic dominant state means you are stressed out and anxious and feeling on edge whereas a parasympathetic dominant state is when you are relaxed and calm.

To learn more about Pharmagaba watch this short but highly informative video going through all the benefits and research:  https://youtu.be/wOzSy3HiXOU

The best supplement on the market is Pharmagaba from Natural Factors.    It is offered in chewables or capsules.   For maximum effects buy the Pharma GABA 250mg version which can be purchased through Amazon or Iherb online.  Do NOT confuse GABA with Pharmagaba – you will only experience benefits if you use the patented Pharmagaba form.

The Nine Big Gym Beginner Mistakes

 

Can Cold Showers Improve Exercise and Fat Burning?

 

Exposure to cold is unpleasant, but used properly, cold exposure is an extremely potent tool for improving health, exercise capacity, and fat burning.

Cold causes an increase in metabolic rate to produce heat to try and counteract the effects of cold resulting in increased calorie/fat burning. However, exposure to cold has a far deeper biological and hormonal impact on the body.

Cold Therapy (CT) is proven to increase adiponectin levels. Adiponectin is a hormone that stimulates fatty acid oxidation in muscle cells by activating AMP-activated protein kinase. Or in simple terms – cold increases adiponectin, adiponectin burns fat.

CT also lowers blood sugar levels by burning glucose as heat and increases glucose uptake into muscle helping speed up recovery times. Clearance of excess blood glucose into muscle helps prevent blood sugar being converted into fat by the liver. Meaning a cold shower after a high carb meal might prevent a lot of the negatives from high sugar intake!

CT also activates conversion of regular body fat (known as white adipose tissue or WAT) into brown adipose tissue (BAT – aka Brown Fat). BAT is very different than typical fat in that it is dense in energy producing mitochondria (hence its brownish color) and utilizes body fat (typically from the belly and back) as its fuel source.

Cold and Norepinepherine

Norepinepherine (NE for short) is an excitatory neurotransmitter that is one of the primary initiators of fat burning.  NE is the key initiator of the Sympathetic Nervous System’s (SNS) Flight or Fight Response.

The Flight or Fight Response is something we have all experienced anytime we are really scared such as almost getting into a serious car accident. If you recall an experience like that you will remember that you are often shaking after the danger has passed.

Shaking occurs because when you perceive a threat the brain pushes out high levels of NE.   High levels of NE stimulate a cascade of effects including:

Increased heart rate

Increased oxygen consumption

Increased circulation

Shut-down of digestive tract while pushing more blood to muscles for action

Increased pupil dilation

Increased mental focus

Reduced perceived exertion, pain, and inflammation.

Release of fatty acids and glucose from storage to fuel high levels of muscular activity.

High levels of NE also stimulate the adrenal glands to secrete epinephrine (EP).   EP is also known as adrenalin.   NE and EP are chemically almost identical with NE being a neurotransmitter and EP being a hormonal version.     

This strong SNS response prepares you for action!

Even brief exposure to extreme cold (20 seconds at 40°F, 4.4°C) causes a 200-300% boost in norepinephrine that lasts for an hour. As stated above increased NE stimulate release of EP as well. You experience a noticeable boost in vigilance, focus, attention, and mood, along with improved oxygen delivery, blood circulation, antioxidant function, mitochondrial biogenesis, and reduced perceived exertion, pain, and inflammation.

Cold and Testosterone

Heat on male genital can decrease testosterone.  Conversely cold temperatures can increase testosterone production! 

Cold showers can potentially help relieve depression

As stated above cold showers increase norepinepherine which helps with depression - see this study on cold showers and  depression:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17993252

Cold and Sleep

Although cold exposure initially causes a strong sympathetic nervous response (like what occurs during any high intensity exercise) later the body rebalances and there is an increase in your Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) response as a reaction to this stimulus.

Your PNS is basically your rest/sleep/repair mode.   So the increased PNS response to cold exposure after the acute SNS response helps with sleep quality.        

Takeaway – Cold Showers can be an effective tool to boost exercise performance and fat burning. for those seeking lower body fat levels. Do 1-5 minute sessions in the morning, dry off and then warm-up and exercise – you will feel rocket charged!

To learn more about all the positive effects of using cold exposure for positive health and fitness benefits listen to this great podcast on the subject:  https://www.foundmyfitness.com/episodes/cold-stress-hormesis