The Coupled System of Sunlight & Shade
Why shade should be considered in your sunbathing practice
You cannot discuss sunlight exposure without shining some light on shade.
The two are married and cannot be divorced from one another.
Sun and shade are a coupled system provided by Mother Nature. This can be proven by the fact that plants reflect near-infrared (NIR) light which is regenerative to the human body.
Here are some examples of the power infrared and NIR light offers.
Researchers found a way for blood vessels to propel blood flow using infrared (IR) energy, even when the heart isn’t actively pumping. In experiments with a chick-embryo model, they observed sustained blood flow for about 50 minutes after stopping the heart, and introducing IR increased the flow significantly. This suggests that vessels, with the help of IR energy, can contribute to blood circulation independently of the heart’s pumping action.
NIR light treats brain injury in mice.
The benefits it offers to the human brain are also astonishing.
The brain has access to external near-infrared light from the sun. Sunlight penetrates through the skull, hits the cerebral spinal fluid, diffuses, gets into the crevices of the brain, and then stimulates the gray matter.
NIR light from the sun stimulates the sub-cellular form of melatonin via mitochondria which is one of the most protective molecules known to human biology.
NIR light even penetrates through clothing.
Think about how incredible it feels to sit under a large tree during a hot summer’s day, especially after you’ve sunbathed in those conditions.
When you’ve sunbathed for a considerable amount of time, seek shade.
Think about this from the standpoint of hormetic stressors, more specifically exercise. When you finish a training session, you seek rest to recover from it so that the benefits of eustress manifest.
Now think of shade in the same way, as that rest from an adequate amount of sunbathing during the day. It’s a form of recovery, and an important one at that for people who are new to getting their skin in the game.
It’s a great way to avoid burns as well.
The same applies to clothing.
People new to this realm who are plugged into the centralized notion of midday sunlight do not think about it this way. They genuinely believe that UV light is a toxin to be avoided at all costs, even if it means being the only mammal in nature to lather themselves up in artificial sunscreens and avoid the sun as much as possible.
What I propose with the framework of building a solar callus (a tan) is sensible and effective.
What dermatologists and society views as “common sense” is twisted, unscientific, and goes against the very foundation of nature.
What they also don’t understand is that melanin production is the most effective sunscreen there is because it blocks 99% of all UV.
And guess what?
All skin types can make more of it.
I have the receipts, some of them included below.
People often rebuttal this point with the idea that melanin solely exists as a means of protecting their skin because UV light is toxic to skin cells, but that’s a hyper-reductionist idea.
The results of those who implement a circadian friendly framework, while also building their tan, prove otherwise.
They fail to realize that nature created melanin to be the most powerful pro-life polymer in existence.
How else can they explain its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, radioprotective, free electron generating, anti-viral, anti-venom, neuroprotective, anti-cancer, heavy metal detoxifying, anti-microbial benefits?
They can’t because they’re ignorant.
Seek sun, but also seek shade.
If you want to learn more about how you can build a tan properly, refer to my solar callus guide article below. It’s one of my most popular articles out there.
Much love,
Zaid
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Hey Zain, thank you so much for your work. Question: been working on building solar callus for 2 years mostly spring to summer, always morning light but about a month ago added midday sun-1-3 hours several days a week. About a week ago I developed really itchy bumps on arms, neck and back. Puzzled after realizing it wasn’t poison ivy etc… I googled and discovered it could be sun allergy/photosensitivity-it has an acronym I don’t recall now but after reading your article and seeing something Kruse said about Vitamin A toxicity (maybe, not sure this is related at all-histamine issues?) I’m wondering if this could be related (below) and if so, would you know anything about this?
“Urocanic acid (a byproduct of the amino acid histidine found in the skin”
Thanks for your input if you’re able to. Am so digging this stuff.
Zaid , you are one smart dude. MANY THANKS FOR BRINGING SUNLIGHT AND ITA ENORMOUS BENEFITS TO LIGHT. HUMANITY SHOULD BE GRATEFUL.