Why I'm tempted to bare it all this spring...(summer, winter, and fall, too!)
It’s 7:30 a.m. The temperature’s hovering around freezing. I toss on a pair of shorts, a tank top, and tennis shoes, put the harness on my dog, and head out to catch the sunrise. This has been my routine all winter long. When I get tot the park, my friends are all bundled up with scarves, beanies, gloves, and boots. Me, I’m always underdressed. Everyone’s used to it by now. My attire (or lack thereof) is not reason for much conversation anymore. But the other day, a friend busted out with this question: “What are you going to do when the weather warms up? Go completely naked?” I paused before I replied.
Of course I want to honor the public decency laws in my city, not to mention the fact that I think modest is hottest. And yet, the idea of wearing my birthday suit outdoors was surprisingly appealing to me. I suspect it’s because of all that I’ve learned about the power of the sun and how to harness it for our health. And rather than blocking the sun’s rays with sunscreen or multiple layers of clothing, I suggest we need to shift our perspective completely in the opposite direction. That is, we should look to expose more of our body to the sun, not less. Here’s why.
Free vitamin D. It’s nicknamed the sunshine nutrient for a reason! Vitamin D can be obtained through food, but the most efficient, and simplest, way to get it is through the sun. The sunlight’s UVB rays stimulate vitamin D production, which plays a number of vital roles in the body. From properly absorbing calcium and phosphorus, which promotes good bone health, to preventing the onset of autoimmune diseases like diabetes by regulating insulin levels, vitamin D is incredibly important. Studies have even shown that supplementing with vitamin D during “flu season” is highly effective in preventing the contraction of the flu. Isn’t that wild!? And doesn’t that sound better than a shot, anyhow? So, sun, meet skin…for free vitamin D & natural immunity protection.
The best mood boost. Ever notice that the winter months don’t just bring gloomy weather, but gloomy moods, too? Well, you’re not imagining things. Our emotions are deeply connected to the neurochemistry of our brain. And light, or the lack of it, has a direct effect on some of the chemicals bouncing around in our heads. Serotonin, the “happy, feel-good” hormone and neurotransmitter, is produced in larger amounts once we’re exposed to sunlight. This explains why many people are more susceptible to sadness and depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), during the colder months with fewer daylight hours. All the more reason to expose ourselves to sunlight during winter, as much as possible, to give that serotonin a helping hand when it really needs it.
Freedom from sleepless nights. Our bodies were designed to ebb and flow with the cycles of the sun and moon, but our modern lifestyles have made that difficult, if not nearly impossible. We stare at our phones until the moment we drop our heads to the pillow and try to fall asleep. Then we toss and turn all night, wondering what could possibly be keeping us awake. We expect our bodies to go to rest immediately after being exposed to copious amounts of blue light! But what many of us don’t realize is, our bodies weren’t designed to work like this! Think about it: before the invention of artificial light, once the sun went down...that was it! Good luck trying to get stuff done, because all we had was the moonlight or a little fire light to work by. And all of this was just fine, tbh, because as soon as night falls and light dissipates, our bodies start to produce melatonin, the “sleepy” hormone. That’s why we start to feel tired as soon as the sun sets. It’s our body’s natural inclination! Indigenous people groups the world over would rise with the morning sun and do very little once the sun has set. So, let’s not fight it. Let’s flow with it! The solution to avoid the tossing and turning? Decrease the blue light exposure at night and increase exposure to sunlight during the day.
A chill pill. In addition to sunlight being a great precursor to serotonin secretion, researchers have found that sunlight exposure actually has a calming effect as well. Observational studies have shown that the average person’s blood pressure actually tends to be higher in the wintertime, and lower in summer. And individuals living in closer to the equator have a healthier, lower average blood pressure than their North and South pole counterparts, where sunlight is scarce. Now, we all can’t just pack up our bags and move to Ecuador (but I am planning a trip there in April, so a visit could be in the cards). But, in the meantime, we must make the best of whatever climate or region we live in! Getting outside frequently, taking vacations to sunnier spots, and using near infra-red light therapy to off-set the lack of sunlight are good steps to take for the calming effect our stressful lives desperately need.
So, short of breaking public decency laws where you live, what can you do to get more of that sunlight onto your skin? Here are a few more tips for getting started with sunlight therapy:
Get outside! Depending on the fairness of your skin, spend 10-20 minutes a day with as much skin as possible exposed to pure sunlight. No sunscreen, just you and the sky. If you begin to turn a little pink, and/or start to feel hot instead of warm, cover up with layers or duck back inside.
Make it early when you can. Get outdoors within 30-45 minutes of sunrise and stay out for 15 minutes. You’ll get that additional benefit of circadian alignment and you’ll sleep better at night and have more energy during the day.
Ditch the sunscreen. If you know you’re going to be out in the sun for long periods of time, rejoice! And, yes, bring a cover up or hat, or layers if you fear you may burn. Sunscreen blocks the rays we actually need from the sun. And it seeps estrogen-disruptors into your bloodstream. So avoid blocking the rays with those chemical concoctions and embrace the sun instead. (Fair-skinned people can build up resilience/time in the sun, by taking sun exposure slow.)
Make “walking on sunshine” a routine. No matter what time of day works best for you, just do it, and keep doing it! Make getting sunshine a part of your morning pattern: sun, journal, Reddit. Or lunch break = sun break. Find a sun buddy to walk with. Nothing will give you a better boost than walking on sunshine!
Fear not! So much of what’s caused our collective retreat to sunbathing and the like is fear. We’ve listened to the well-intentioned, but ill-informed, voice of medical dogma instead of listening to our own bodies and the wisdom of those who came before us. So fear not, and march forward into the sun confidently!
Personally, I am loving all of the benefits from more sunlight. I feel better than ever. So, why not give it a try, and let me know what changes you notice as you get going on this trajectory! And, keep in mind, that whatever you do on private property is nobody else’s business. That’s my philosophy anyhow!
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Hilda Labrada Gore is a biohacker, certified health coach, and fitness professional. She is the host and producer of the Wise Traditions podcast, on behalf of the Weston A. Price Foundation. She is a podcast coach, too, and the author of “Podcasting Made Simple.” She is a YouTuber, helping people live their best lives through experts, experiences, and epic adventures. Hilda has energy to spare thanks to her ancestral health practices and her love for sunshine and liverwurst.