The best time to seek sunlight to support sleep ☀️
A key component of regulating circadian rhythm.
The role of sunlight in sleep regulation: analysis of morning, evening and late exposure
Study Details
This new cross-sectional study analysed sunlight exposure in over 1,700 participants across three distinct periods…
1️⃣ Before 10:00
2️⃣ 10:00 - 15:00
3️⃣ After 15:00
Sleep quality was also assessed via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) 📝
Associations between sunlight exposure and sleep outcomes were evaluated 🔍
Here is what they found ⬇️
Key Findings
⏰ The midpoint of sleep was the most affected sleep parameter
(research suggests that delayed midpoints of sleep are associated with various negative health outcomes)
🌅 Every 30-min increment of morning sun exposure (before 10:00) was associated with a 23-min reduction in the midpoint of sleep
🌤️ Sunlight exposure after 15:00 also reduced the midpoint of sleep but to a lesser extent (- 19 mins)
📈 An increase in morning sun exposure was significantly associated with a lower PSQI total score, improving sleep quality
Conclusion
Morning sunlight exposure influences the regulation of the sleep midpoint and overall sleep quality 😴
Morning sun exposure is essential in aligning circadian rhythms and improving sleep health ☀️
Seeking sunlight before 10:00 can serve as a practical, non-pharmacological intervention to improve sleep ✅
Reference
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41053799/
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