Sunlight exposure while eating helps boost and strengthen your circadian rhythm
Ever wondered why food tastes better when you are out on a picnic or sitting with friends and eating outdoors? For sure it’s got a lot to do with serotonin levels that increase with happy laughter and chatter with people around, but according to experts, eating with natural light is also one of the most underrated health hacks.
Various studies have pointed out that sunlight exposure while eating leads to not just better and regulated digestion and balance of hormones but also helps with overall well-being. A few important benefits include:
Improved sleep cycle
One of the biggest ways sunlight exposure helps while eating is that it strengthens your circadian rhythm – your body's internal clock that regulates sleep-wake cycles and other bodily functions over a 24-hour period. Experts say it is a natural process that is guided by the brain but can be influenced by external factors like light.
According to research, eating in sync with natural light improves nutrient absorption and reduces the risk of metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes.
Balances hormones
Experts say eating in natural sunlight helps boost serotonin or the feel-good hormone—a chemical messenger that affects your mood, memory, learning, and other bodily functions. It's also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT as it regulates the hunger hormone ghrelin that appetite, and leptin that signals fullness.
Studies have found that serotonin increases with bright light exposure, potentially curbing overeating and indulgence.
Boosts vitamin D levels
Sunlight exposure is the best way to increase your vitamin D leve critical for your overall health and well-being.
Along with calcium, vitamin protects older adults from osteoporosis by reducing inflammation as well as modulation of cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function, and glucose metabolism. Research says vitamin D plays an important role in regulating mood and decreasing the risk of depression apart from inducing a healthy weight loss due to boosted and regulated metabolism.
What happens in vitamin D deficiency?
According to experts, several factors affect your ability to get adequate vitamin D from sunlight alone. You may be less likely to absorb enough vitamin D from the sun if you:
- Live in an area with high pollution
- Use a lot of sunscreen
- Spend a lot of time indoors
- Live in a big city where buildings block sunlight
- Have dark skin
These factors can increase your risk of vitamin D deficiency, so it’s important to get some of your vitamin D from sources other than sunlight, like supplements and natural foods.
What are the signs and symptoms of vitamin D deficiency?
A few signs and symptoms of vitamin D deficiency in adults include:
- Extreme tiredness, aches, and pains
- Severe bone or muscle pain and weakness
- Stress fractures, especially in your legs, pelvis, and hips
Doctors diagnose a vitamin D deficiency by performing a simple blood test. If you have a deficiency, your doctor may order X-rays to check the strength of your bones.
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