Building A Tan: No Different Than Exercise

The common threads between sunbathing and training

Sunbathing and training are more similar than you think.

Both use the principle of hormesis, which states that a little bit of stress or toxin can actually be good for you, as long as it's not too much. There is nuance involving the “too much” discussion around sunlight exposure, but the principle holds true.

During sunbathing (between the hours of 10 AM - 3 PM, depending on latitude), the sun’s full light spectrum shines. This period of time is where you find an incredible amount of red, infrared, blue, and UV-A/UV-B light wavelengths.

I want you to think of blue and UV-A + UV-B as healthy and necessary stressors which utilize the principle of hormesis. I have covered the benefits of all these light wavelengths, but I’ll run you through a quick primer.

Blue light wavelengths from the sun are inherently healthy because they create benefit for specific circadian aspects of our biology. Natural blue light from the sun stimulates every aspect of our hormonal system. There is a blue light …