I really enjoyed a recent interview with Dr. Roger Seheult on the Huberman Lab podcast, especially the part about how sunlight exposure is linked to lifespan and mitochondrial function. He suggests getting at least 30 minutes of sunlight twice a day, even on overcast days. (I will add a link to the interview in the comments)
I know that I always feel better, physically and mentally, if I have a chance to get out in the sun,
Have you tried increasing your daily sunlight exposure? Have you noticed any effects on your energy, sleep, or overall health?
I always feel much better in the Summertime when I can be out at least and hour or two daily on a work day walking or swimming or poking around. I am sometimes out all day on my days off and it is very invigorating and helps my arthritis.
I try to get at least 30 minutes of direct sunlight a day in the winter (that is a challenge sometimes) even it if is just standing with my face and hands to the sun in the parking lot for a few minutes at a time.
I never got sunburn as a kid and only had problems with burns when I started eating “low-fat” and wearing sunscreen in the late 80s. I am usually pretty covered up anyway and not much skin shows unless I am swimming and I have a big hat for beach/lake/pool days.
I haven’t burned recently (other than windburn) now that I don’t eat certain oils or put chemical sunscreen on my skin (I will use old fashioned zinc oxide occasionally if I need to be out all day).
I always feel fantastic near water (especially the ocean, a river, or a natural lake). Even the town pool isn’t bad except for the chlorine drying out my skin.
Thank you for the lovely reply. Agree with never using sunscreen, if I am going on a long walk I would add a generous amount of coconut oil to my skin, unfortunately I did get burned as a teenager growing up on the beach, but am more careful now.
And like you, water makes me very happy, especially wild swimming.
I haven’t watched the video yet but the 2023 talk by Dr. Paul Marik on photo biomodulation and near/infrared included some wonderful key points about how our lives today are deficient in the infrared spectrum due to things like low emissivity glass, the recent advent of LED bulbs, and so on. He goes on to explain that the damaging effects of ultraviolet are in fact countered when we receive IR light, which produces melatonin, and that as an antioxidant is the counter, countering the UV negative effects.
Recent IR studies are showing health improvements with the eyes such as macular degeneration, something that recently we’ve found is associated with screen time and blue light exposure.
In Dr. Marik’s talk he also mentioned the Spanish Flu and a report that when they were running out of space in hospitals, they started placing patients outside in beds, and those that were placed outside were resolving their issues in significantly shorter time.
His PDF of the talk also demonstrates a correlation with latitude (how far north or south) people live and the degree to which they develop issues such as dementia. The more sun the better!
I use a standing Platinum LED set of 4 panels to get IR exposure. When I started, I couldn’t tolerate much more than 10 minutes. It would make my heart pound and feel fatigued. I now do the recommended 20 minutes with no issue. My health has clearly improved with more exposure.
I cannot give you any metrics on benefits to me of solar exposure; but I do know getting sunlight makes me feel better. I did some online searches and found out that NIR light can go through window glass, as well as or better than does UVA light, and that the more harmful UVB is stopped almost completely by glass. And that there is no need to don a swimsuit or strip down to shorts for a solar session, since NIR light (750 nm - 1400 nm) can penetrate through as much as 13 layers of clothing - with the exception of denim which can cut it down to 50% or more. Also, do not wear green clothing, which can impede absorption of NIR. I also learned that clouds can cut down on NIR exposure, but not completely, maybe down to 35% to 50%, but that’s still enough for beneficial effects. (Incidentally, I have removed the screen from behind my window, since I figure its material (metal or plastic) would probably absorb or block any kind of solar rays.)
So, I conclude that I can receive reasonably good heliotherapy sessions of photobiomodulation, even on very cold semi-overcast days, even while sitting fully clothed behind my closed SW window. If anyone has data that could support or counter my conclusion, I would be grateful for your input.
Thank you IMA-HelenT! So nice of you to send me your collected information from my dear friend, Perplexity.ai! I frequently use “his/her” service, but have learned that s/he-it occasionally needs checking, especially on math and unit symbols describing measurements involving calculations.
About the topic of NIR and window glass, because I was skeptical about the stats about glass and NIR, I often open wide my SW window, taking glass out of the equation, allowing the open air and the occasional flying bug to enter my space, though only on sunny days (I keep a rolled up swatter for shooing the surprised critter back outside, stunned but not injured). Even when if it is very cold near freezing, the sun’s radiation is enough to keep me comfortably warm (even though the UV index is rarely above 2.5 here in Upstate NY during the winter). To heighten and enhance the benefits of NIR, I extend my upper body and face, while slowly turning my head from side to side to allow all the acu-points (that is, acupuncture/acupressure points) of my ears some exposure. These points, according to ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine, are a microcosm of the meridians throughout one’s entire body. I do the same thing with the palms of my hands, and, more daringly, the soles of my bare feet. I feel this approach maximizes the effectiveness of my heliotherapy.
Letting go of cell phones and EMF technology to increase our exposure to nature is a wonderful solution to recalibrate our electromagnetic and healthier co-creative balance. The sun is exactly what the doc might order. We have moved into our isolated homes/offices, with little exposure to nature, which serves to recalibrate our own natural rhythms and healthiest ways of being on this planet.
Would love to hear your thoughts. 
agree, take what AI produces as a great start to investigate further. Love your tips about the palms at bottom of the feet… going to try that.