Sunlight Lowers Blood Sugar After A Meal
The shocking new study to show that light is as important as food
What do you think matters more when it comes to health, light or food?
Most people would answer with food because that’s what the conventional establishment has focused on for decades. Every major functional medicine practitioner pushes the importance of food at the expense of light.
It seems like everywhere you look, there’s a certified nutritionist waiting to educate you on how food is the most important pillar of well-being.
I’m here to flip that narrative on its head.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe nutrient dense food is important to the discussion of health. I aim to be holistic in my understanding. But, I truly believe that light environment and circadian biology matters more.
This article will give you one reason why that’s the case.
Cue this study in the Journal of Biophotonics which was published on February 20th, 2024. If you were skeptical that light is on the same level as food, if not more important, this study is for you.
It’s no secret that mitochondria produce ATP and are responsible for cellular metabolism. It’s also no secret that photobiomodulation (red light therapy) improves mitochondrial efficiency.
Longer wavelength light boosts mitochondrial activity by enhancing electron transport and ATP production. It also reduces the viscosity of water around ATP pumps, improving their efficiency The ATPase quantum nanomotors use the red light spectrum as fuel to spin.
Once we understand the systemic implications of red light and the function mitochondria, a massive improvement in blood glucose isn’t the least bit shocking.
30 healthy participants were recruited. 15 in the 670 nm PBM group (mean age 41.1 ± 13.1 years) 15 in the placebo group (no light; mean age 38.3 ± 13.7 years). They had no known metabolic conditions and were not taking medication.
Participants were randomised into either a 670 nm PBM group, or placebo (no light) group at the point of recruitment. All individuals undertook two fasting oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) over a 7-day period, each time consuming 75 g glucose in 150 mL of water.
Capillary blood glucose levels were recorded by finger prick tests, and respired end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure (EtCO2) were measured every 15 min for 2 h while at rest For all individuals in both groups, an initial control OGTT was recorded during their first visit.
If you want more details on the study design, you can read the study here. Below displays the powerful results of the study.
In comparison to a placebo, the 670 nm PBM intervention decreased overall blood glucose concentrations by 7.3%. It also reduced post-consumption elevation in blood glucose by 27.7%.
These are significant reductions, not trivial ones.
Repeated measurements showed significant reductions as well. Post hoc analysis indicated significant decreases in both measures at 45-, 60-, 75-, and 90-min post-loading time points.
These changes were seen after only 15 minutes of exposure over 800 cm2 of tissue, which is about 4% of the skin’s surface area. This leaves us to think about whether there’s a greater impact with more skin exposed during sunbathing.
Let’s recap: 670 nm red light from the sun significantly reduces postprandial blood glucose in healthy individuals during a glucose tolerance test.
One 15 minute exposure to 670 nm red light decreased the rise in blood glucose by 27.7% over 2 hours. Maximum glucose spikes were reduced by 7.5%.
What does that tell you about the relationship of light to food?
It should reshape your entire philosophy on food, where you eat it, and what light you consume a meal under. A few years ago, this would be scoffed at as nonsense.
27.7% doesn’t sound like much. But, when you consider nonlinear effects on human biology and the function of time on a metric like blood sugar in relation to metabolic health, it should send shockwaves through the health community.
What impact would this have on a nation of pre-diabetics and full blown type 2 diabetics, especially considering how leptin resistance is at the heart of the obesity crisis?
I think it would create a profound cascade of beneficial effects.
Most of your meals are eaten inside under toxic artificial light which decimates your metabolism, blood sugar control, and mitochondria. Your mitochondria control metabolism, while the light in your environment affects its speed.
Why is that?
Mainly due to how it influences our mammalian POMC system in the brain.
Practically, what can you do?
Eat the majority of your meals outside under sunlight with most of your bare skin exposed. Even if you have clothes on, go outside and enjoy your meals. Ideally, do it while you’re grounded to a natural and conductive Earth surface as well.
If you must eat a meal inside under artificial light, take a 15 minute walk post meal. Your blood glucose will improve dramatically with the walking and sunlight.
People should really consider this. It especially applies to people who think light doesn’t matter. I’m looking at all the food-centric health gurus.
The light in your environment is arguably more important than the food you put into your mouth. At the very least, it’s on the same level.
After all, where does your food come from? Photosynthesis.
This goes levels deeper.
Systemic glucose levels can be modulated with specific solar wavelengths that influence mitochondrial metabolism. Mitochondrial respiration can be modulated using light that shifts ATP production with exceptional conservation of effect across species, from insects to humans.
Known wavelengths have opposing effects of photobiomodulation, with longer wavelengths (660–900 nm red/infrared) increasing ATP production, and 420 nm (blue) light suppressing metabolism.
Remember to focus on light and circadian biology.
Next to nobody in the health community is focused on it.
Much love,
Zaid
I entirely agree. we are light beings
I can certainly get behind eating outside under the sun and post-meal walks! Thanks for sharing, Zaid.