Look out the window and ask yourself this question:
How much light can you see?
Maybe you think you see all of the light. Maybe you think you see some. Maybe you think it’s a weird question.
Well, get this: You can only see 0.0036% of the light frequencies around you. The good news? There’s some really excellent frequencies of light (UV and infrared!) that you can’t see, and boy, are they doing some amazingly positive things for your health!
Let’s take a Squint.
All The Light We Cannot See
Sunlight contains a broad spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, ultraviolet (UV) light and infrared light. The spectrum of light we’re most familiar with is the visible light spectrum, which appears as a rainbow of colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. These colors are all around us – it’s the visible spectrum that our eyes can see.
Now, you might be asking: If I can see a whole rainbow of colors from light, how is it possible that what I’m seeing is only 0.0036% of what’s there?
That’s because we exist in one octave of light (that’s the visible spectrum!). There are another 72 octaves we cannot see. It’s almost hard to fathom, right? The truth is that we don’t see most of our world.
Let that sink in for a moment.
It’s not scary though. In fact, there are some absolutely fantastic cancer-preventing wavelengths we can’t see! And just because we can’t see them, it doesn’t mean they aren’t working for us. It’s kind of like oxygen. We can’t see it, but we can’t live without it. Same is true for light.
Our surfaces are designed to decipher all the wavelengths from our environment – to act like a solar panel. And not just a panel for the wavelengths we can see. Each wavelength (seen or unseen) is input for our brain/skin to excite our molecules and give them the energy they need for important functions, like creating serotonin and dopamine so we’re in a good mood.
Out of Sight, But Not Out of Mind
The daily timing of the entire electromagnetic spectrum (visible, infrared UV) tunes our body and allows our light genes to work. And, yes, we have light genes – specifically designed for mammals (including humans) – that need sun! In fact, we have a protein called proopiomelanocortin (POMC), that reads and reacts to the light in our environment. POMC creates Alpha-MSH which allows us to better capture sunlight. The more Alpha-MSH, the better our circadian time mechanism works. The more UV light we get, the more we can upregulate POMC in our tissues.
Put simply, we have genes that want and need sun!
Our bodies are designed to receive sun—all of it – not just what our eyes can see. Our system is built to measure small quantum changes in light. So, it stands to reason that if light changes for any reason, a cell shifts its frequency or vibration. The timing of our light tunes our body. Our genes read and react to the interactions between our environmental light and our bodies use that information to operate. It’s genius.
Perfectly Designed for Sunlight
This light-inspired show that our body needs to function is all made possible by intricate sensors equipped throughout our body. We have sensors – called photoreceptors – that allow us to capture full-spectrum wavelengths through our eyes, skin and our gut. We’re taking it ALL in—whether we see it or not.
By getting outdoors, we increase our chances of capturing all the necessary frequencies (visible, infrared, UV) that our bodies need to function. But, when we stay indoors, that exposure is limited, and our mood is not so great? And even when we do go outdoors, we frequently cover up our most important sensors – with clothes, rash guards, sunglasses and sunscreen – all circadian disruptors that throw the whole system off. That’s because blocking one part of the spectrum alters our biochemistry. Pro tip: When you wear sunglasses, your body gets confused. When you block your eyes, your body doesn’t prepare your skin for sun. Your body thinks it’s dark outside and doesn’t prepare your skin for light. We’ve taken a Squint at A LOT of burned people wearing sunglasses.
The Wave of the Future
The hallmark of good health is the efficiency with which your body is able to harvest all of the sun’s wavelengths in your environment. To broaden your light exposure and improve your health, you must spend more time outside, connected with nature. You must incorporate the Squintessentials in your wellness plan.
We’re going to talk a lot more about the specific wavelengths of light and where and when you can find them. Stay tuned, outside.
Thank you for taking a Squint with us! Don’t forget to print out our checklist to stay on top of your light routine.