IG: Let’s talk about sunshine for a second. We neeeeed it for optimal health. Yet we’ve been taught to fear it or avoid it🙃. WTF. Of course, the sun is important because it offers us vit D, and is the major source of this important nutrient that has powerful effects throughout the body. [Vit D, which actually acts more like a hormone than a vitamin, allows us to more effectively use calcium, improves the immune system, helps prevent cancer, is important for brain function and soo much more.] There’s even more to it though. The human eye contains photosensitive cells with connections directly to the pituitary gland in the brain. Stimulation of these important cells comes from sunlight, in particular, the blue unseen spectrum. Studies show these photoreceptors play a vital role in human physiology and overall health. The effects are not only in the brain, but the WHOLE BODY. Photosensitive cells in the eye also directly affect the brain’s hypothalamus region, which controls our biological clock. This influences our circadian rhythm, not just important for jet lag but for normal sleep patterns, hormone regulation, increased reaction time, and behavior. Most cells in the body have an important cyclic pattern when working optimally, so potentially, just about any area of the body can falter without adequate sun stimulation. Summary: sunshine benefits our ENTIRE body in huge ways. We need it. Get it in. SO, what can you do, especially in Canadian winters where it’s cold and not very sunny most days? Expose your uncovered eyes to morning sunlight for at least a few minutes each day, even on cloudy days. Bonus, go OUTSIDE for this. At a minimum, you should be exposing your face to sunlight (or towards the direction of the sun) for a few minutes every morning and also during the day, if you can. Scored a sunny day? Make it a PRIORITY to get that sun in your eyes and on your face. Prioritize this like you would any other healthy practice. Then during warmer times of the year, expose as much of your body to it as possible. Do it. Seriously. You’ll thank me