"Light is the Lever that Controls Biochemistry." (Jack Kruse)
And why you need to build your solar callous.
The Essential Role of Light in Life
Without light, life cannot exist.
Every living organism on Earth relies on particular light cues for survival and flourishing. We have evolved under a specific segment of the electromagnetic spectrum, which ranges from the ultraviolet B region, through the visible spectrum (commonly recognized as the colors of the rainbow), and extending into the far infrared region.
Another term for the electromagnetic spectrum is LIGHT. All the waves that make it up are forms of light. Mammals, including humans, have developed mechanisms to harness the light that reaches the Earth's surface, specifically the portions of the electromagnetic spectrum from UVB to Far Infrared. We utilize it all, as we depend on it entirely to thrive.
For instance,
Our brains require blue light each morning to trigger the production of pregnenolone, which subsequently allows for the appropriate synthesis of cortisol and sex hormones throughout the day.
We need a continuous exposure to red and infrared light to counteract the harmful effects of excessive blue light, whether it comes from the sun, screens, or LED bulbs.
We need infrared light to support and balance our blood pressure (On beta blockers? Get outside daily. A LOT. and let me know when your doctor has to lower your dose - it's that simple! Infrared light is the key).
We require ultraviolet A light each morning to produce essential hormones and compounds, including thyroid hormone, adrenaline, melanin, dopamine, serotonin, melatonin, urocanic acid, beta endorphins, and alpha, beta, and gamma melanocyte-stimulating hormones. Additionally, it helps regulate histamine levels, which can be crucial for addressing seasonal allergies, food allergies, and skin issues. If histamine is "talking to you," it's a sign to get outside!
We need ultraviolet B light to make vitamin D. Vitamin D (the bioavailable one that we can actually use) is made from cholesterol. High cholesterol? Chances are you also have low vitamin D. the solution is NOT statins and vitamin D supplements. That just breaks the system. The solution is to get outside in the middle of the day, under all of the light of the sun we evolved under and let LIGHT control the levers of your biochemistry.
These are merely foundational examples of how light regulates all life. The primary goal of this article is to outline essential principles for harnessing its life-sustaining powers in the 21st century—a period in history where we have persistently created a lifestyle that disconnects us from this vital light! With indoor living, artificial lighting, and exposure to parts of the electromagnetic spectrum that we weren’t designed to absorb (such as radio waves and microwaves), we often believe we’re being clever by creating “energy-efficient” lighting. However, we overlook the fact that we've had to forgo the most crucial component of the light spectrum that the original incandescent bulb emitted: infrared light.
To emphasize this point:
ALMOST HALF OF THE SUNLIGHT THAT REACHES THE EARTH'S SURFACE AND ALL OF US IS INFRARED LIGHT!
Full stop.
Read that again.
Nature clearly recognizes that infrared light is vital for our survival. However, what did we do? We removed it from our fixtures and devices and chose to stay indoors, where the light remains constant, and the temperature stays the same.
How to fix our light problem - Build Your Solar Callous
Fortunately, we are not without hope. As with everything in Nature, the solution is both simple and straightforward. We need to reconnect with the outdoors regularly and consistently—ideally, every day. While it may be challenging due to our indoor-centric 21st-century lifestyle, this practice is vital for our survival and overall well-being.
A great place to start, if you're not doing this already, is with your morning light habits. A solid, sunlit morning routine will do wonders for what ails you and it will build up your tolerance for sunlight as we move into the summer months.
Late winter and early spring present an excellent opportunity to soak up the sun, exposing as much skin as possible. Why is this important? Our bodies produce their own natural sunscreen known as urocanic acid. Additionally, we generate melanin, a crucial molecule not only responsible for skin pigmentation but also for energy and the fourth phase of water. This topic deserves its own discussion, so we’ll save it for another time. However, it’s important to note: low melanin levels are associated with illness, while high melanin levels promote health and well-being. To boost melanin, we need SUN!
Have you ever traveled from a chilly winter location to a warm paradise like Florida, Arizona, or Mexico? Once you arrive at that sun-kissed destination, do you find yourself shedding layers and soaking up the rays in your bathing suit? It feels so wonderful that you might stay out too long, only to discover you’ve turned into a lobster! On the first day of your winter escape, have you ever questioned why you burned so quickly?
The answer: no solar callus.
The skin needs gradual, increasing amounts of time in the sun in order to build a good layer of melanin and a solid dose of urocanic acid. When these 2 things are in place, you are able to spend longer periods of time in stronger sun without damaging your skin. The best time to begin this gradual increase is late winter/early spring. For us in the northern hemisphere.
[side note when I entered the above paragraph in my editor/spell check app, it wouldn't process it. I suspect it has to do with my comment that one can spend longer amounts of time in the sun without burning. The "sun is bad/sun causes cancer" dogma is so entrenched, even spell checkers are biased!]
We are squarely mid-Spring now. But it's never too late to begin beefing up that solar callous! So here we go...
Embracing Morning Sunlight for Skin Preparation
The morning sunlight, particularly during the first three hours of the day, is less intense compared to midday rays. This period is the perfect opportunity to step outside and expose as much skin as possible to absorb UVA rays, preparing your skin for more intense sun exposure later in the day and throughout the year.
Even if you're not ready to shed the clothing, get out there anyway. Why? Because approximately 90% of the light our brain requires to produce essential hormones and chemicals for proper functioning is received through our eyes! Our skin acts as a remarkable solar panel, and it needs the right light to thrive. But simply going outside to soak up those UVA rays with naked eyes is an effective way to prepare. In fact, having "naked eyes" is the most crucial aspect of this solar callous-building process. Avoid sunglasses, glasses, or contacts. If you need corrective lenses for safety—like driving or navigating your surroundings—consider wearing your regular glasses until you reach a safe “UVA gathering spot.” Then, take them off for a moment to let in all that beneficial light through your bare eyes.
Have you ever wondered why wearing glasses or contacts isn't beneficial for absorbing UVA light in the morning? The reason is that most lenses and contacts are designed to block UV rays. A quick search online often emphasizes the “UV is harmful” narrative, making it quite challenging to find information that supports non-blocking UV options. But take heart! For anyone preferring/needing contacts in the morning, there is one brand of contact lenses that I know of that doesn’t block UV light: Dailies Total 1. Grab those asap and get on with it. These also have the benefit of having the best oxygen transmissibility. This is important, because apparently most contacts also starve the eye of oxygen - not a good situation and thus why it’s not recommended to sleep with contacts in.
Skin in the Game
As the weather gets warmer, it's time to show off some skin! Lift your shirt and let your belly soak up the sun—it's fantastic for gut health! Don your shorts and tank tops to quickly achieve a lovely tan on your arms and legs. Remember, the deeper the tan, the more melanin you have. Increased melanin translates to more energy for "all the things." And with that extra energy comes enhanced vitality and overall well-being.
Having sufficient melanin reserves provides our bodies with a resource to draw upon when challenges arise, requiring extra care and attention—such as after intense workouts that need longer recovery times, or in the case of sprains, strains, food poisoning, allergies, and other accidental musculoskeletal issues.
Our skin acts as a solar panel for our brain. Along with the retina, both developed from the same embryonic layer known as the ectoderm. It makes sense that they would "speak the same language" and react to the same stimulus. That stimulus is LIGHT—not food, not intense workouts, and not supplements or medications.
The Significance of UV Light
UV light is crucial for the synthesis of Vitamin D, melanin, Urocanic Acid, and various brain chemicals essential for health and optimal functioning, including dopamine, serotonin, melatonin, noradrenaline, and histamine. When UV light is blocked from reaching our eyes, our bodies struggle to produce these vital molecules, which can lead to a range of issues such as:
Thyroid problems
Anxiety and depression
Seasonal and other allergies
General histamine imbalance
Difficulty sleeping at night
And more
Understanding the importance of UV light is key to maintaining overall well-being.
Understanding Melanin and Its Role in Skin Protection
“Melanin is the pigment responsible for your skin's natural color and provides protection against sunburn. When your skin is exposed to sunlight, melanocytes increase pigment production, resulting in a tan and more melanin.”
“Wearing sunglasses or UV-blocking contact lenses interrupts this natural process. Instead of stimulating melanocyte production to shield your body from sunburn, your pituitary gland perceives it as dark and significantly decreases the hormones that stimulate melanocytes. Consequently, your skin produces less melanin, leading to a higher risk of sunburn and skin damage. This serves as another reason to consider limiting or avoiding sunscreen use.” (@rootcausewithcara)
In summary
Building up your solar callous is pretty simple: get outside every morning, during those first 3 hours, naked eyes and naked skin (as much as possible), and let sunlight work it's magic.
If you start doing this NOW, in May, you will be able to get outside in the middle of summer and not burn.
CAVEAT #1 - ditch the sunglasses
CAVEAT #2 - ditch the sunscreen creams and potions
If you get outside but insist on wearing sunglasses and using sunscreen, that solar callous WILL NOT DEVELOP.
Have questions or concerns about what I just laid out? Please reach out! You can always book a FREE discovery call with me so we can begin to have a conversation and decide where to go from there.
To building that solar callous!
Amanda