We just got back from a trip to Mexico, and one of my favorite parts of traveling to tropical places is how much time we spend outside.

The only time we’re NOT outside is when we’re sleeping.

It feels SO good.

And yes - part of that is the mental/spiritual side of being in nature… but it’s also doing a lot more for your body than most people realize… including your blood sugar.

Why sunlight is good for blood sugar

A study published in the Journal of Biophotonics looked at what happens when people are exposed to red light before eating.

Study participants received 15 minutes of 670 nm light before a glucose test, and the results showed:

• About a 28% lower rise in blood sugar
• Lower peak glucose spikes overall

So getting exposed to red light (the same light that’s in the sun) actually changes how your body handles food!

What’s happening

It comes down to your mitochondria.

These are the “energy factories” inside your cells, and they respond directly to light - especially red and near-infrared light (which you naturally get from the sun).

When your mitochondria absorb this light:

• ATP (your body’s energy currency) production increases
• Your cells need more fuel to make that energy
• That fuel is glucose

So your body pulls more glucose out of the bloodstream, which helps blunt that post-meal spike.

What this looks like in real life

This doesn’t need to be complicated!

It can be as simple as:

• Eating breakfast/lunch on your patio
• Getting outside while your food is heating up
• Sitting outside for lunch instead of staying indoors
• Find a picnic table at your office building
• Grabbing an outdoor table when you can

This is one of those low-effort habits that can make a noticeable difference over time.

What most people are doing instead

Most people are spending the majority of their day indoors - under artificial lighting, on screens, and with very little natural light exposure.

Chronic exposure to high amounts of blue-heavy artificial light (from screens, LEDs, and indoor lighting) may impair mitochondrial function and disrupt glucose regulation over time.

So by getting outside, you’re not just adding in a healthy habit - you’re also correcting for what modern life is doing to us on a daily basis.

Challenge for you

With the spring weather getting so nice, I’d challenge you to try at least one of these:

• Eat one meal outside each day
• Go for a short walk after you eat
• Avoid blue-heavy artificial light (use natural light, work outside, get incandescent lightbulbs, etc.)

More time outside is one of my favorite tips for clients because it’s simple, free, and actually works!

In health,

-Daina

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​tabletocrave.com​

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