Have you ever noticed how food tastes better during a picnic in the sunshine? Or how eating near a window where the sun shines can lift your mood? It's not just psychological, as eating under natural light may be one of the most underrated health benefits.
Experts are working to understand the reasons that link exposure to sunlight during meals to improved digestion, hormonal balance, and overall well-being.
These are some key benefits of eating in natural sunlight:
1. Improved circadian rhythm: Exposure to sunlight strengthens your circadian rhythm, the body's biological clock, which regulates digestion, metabolism, and sleep. A study in Nature Reviews Endocrinology (2019) found that eating in sync with natural light improves nutrient absorption and reduces the risk of metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes.
2. Hormonal balance: Natural sunlight stimulates the production of serotonin, which not only lifts your mood, but also helps regulate the hunger hormone ghrelin, which is an appetite suppressant, and leptin, which signals satiety. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (2014) found that serotonin increases during sun exposure, curbing the desire to eat even when we are full.
3. Vitamin D and Metabolism: Exposure to sunlight while eating can increase your body's synthesis of vitamin D. Vitamin D plays a crucial role in calcium absorption, immune health, and even the balance of gut microbiota.
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