Glossary

Aging: Aging occurs as mitochondria gradually lose efficiency, reducing energy and mitochondrial water production needed for tissue hydration.

Artificial light: Artificial light is emitted from various sources, including cell phones, computer screens, flat-screen TVs, and indoor lighting. Unlike natural sunlight, it can be harmful because it predominantly contains blue light frequencies, tends to flicker, and lacks a balanced spectrum of colors.

Blue light: Natural blue light from the sun helps wake you up in the morning and regulates your circadian rhythm. Sunlight’s blue light is beneficial because it is balanced by other wavelengths in the spectrum, especially red light. In contrast, blue light from artificial sources—such as computer screens, flat-screen TVs, indoor lighting, and cell phones —is unopposed and can be harmful, particularly after sunset.

Blue-light addiction: A person who is excessively exposed to blue light from devices such as cell phones, computer screens, and flat-screen TVs may develop a dependence on this type of stimulation. Chronic exposure to artificial blue light can disrupt sleep patterns and lower dopamine levels, which may contribute to addictive behaviors like overeating, gambling, and substance abuse.

Circadian: The word 'circadian' is derived from the Latin 'circa diem,' meaning 'about a day.' It refers to biological rhythms that follow cycles of approximately 24 hours.

Circadian rhythm: Circadian rhythm is a biological process governed by an internal timing mechanism that operates on an approximately 24-hour cycle. These rhythms influence sleep patterns, hormone release, appetite, digestion, and temperature regulation. The human circadian clock synchronizes with the natural day-night cycle, using sunlight as its primary cue, and resets each morning with exposure to sunrise. In 2017, the Nobel Prize was awarded for the discovery of the molecular mechanisms that control circadian rhythms.

Cortisol: Cortisol helps wake you up in the morning. Its levels rise in response to the blue light frequencies present in morning sunlight and gradually decline throughout the afternoon and evening. Cortisol typically peaks between 7 am and 8 am.

Deuterium: Deuterium is a type of hydrogen found in the Earth's water cycle. Water is high in deuterium at the equator, while the lowest levels of deuterium exist at the poles. Deuterium is called 'heavy water' because it has twice the atomic mass compared to low deuterium water, making it too heavy for your mitochondria to process.

Diet: The term “diet” originates from the Greek word diaita, which translates to “way of life. ”Originally, it referred not just to food, but to a person's overall lifestyle, including habits related to health and well-being.

Dopamine: Dopamine is a crucial neurotransmitter in the brain, essential for processes such as thinking and motivation. It is central to the brain’s reward system, influencing pleasure, learning, and decision-making. When dopamine levels are low, individuals may experience reduced motivation, mood disturbances, and a greater susceptibility to addictive behaviors. Disruptions to circadian rhythms—such as exposure to artificial light at night or irregular sleep patterns—can impair dopamine regulation, further affecting mood and motivation.

Electrons: Electrons are negatively charged particles that enable the absorption and emission of light energy.

Flicker: Flicker refers to the rapid, intermittent flashing of artificial light that occurs below the threshold of human perception. This phenomenon can lead to health issues such as migraine headaches, visual disturbances, and, in extreme cases, epileptic seizures.

Grounding: Grounding is the practice of making direct physical contact with the Earth's surface—such as walking barefoot—to absorb its natural electrical charge.

Hormone: Hormones are messenger molecules in the human body that absorb and emit light as information and energy.

Infrared light: Infrared (IR) light is a type of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun that is invisible to the human eye, but can be felt as warmth on the skin. IR light is known for its ability to penetrate deeply into the skin and underlying tissues. Humans also emit infrared light, which can be detected by infrared cameras. More than half of the sun’s energy that reaches Earth arrives in the form of infrared radiation.

Leptin: Leptin is a hormone produced by fat cells that helps regulate body weight by increasing metabolism and suppressing appetite. Its primary target organ is the hypothalamus, where it signals satiety and energy balance.

Leptin-melanocortin pathway: The leptin-melanocortin pathway plays a central role in regulating appetite, energy expenditure, and body weight. A consistent light-dark cycle is essential for the proper functioning of this system, as it helps synchronize the circadian clock and establish rhythmic patterns of hormone release. Disruptions to the light-dark cycle can lead to decreased bone density, increased hunger, psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression, and weight gain.

Melanin:  Melanin plays an important role in absorbing energy from the sun. After absorbing solar energy, melanin can hold a charge and provide energy in a manner similar to a battery. Melanin can also produce energy by separating water into its basic components: hydrogen, oxygen, and electrons. Additionally, melanin protects you from non-native electromagnetic fields by absorbing various forms of electromagnetic frequencies. In response to sunlight, the POMC gene stimulates melanin production in melanocytes.

Melatonin: Melatonin is a hormone primarily produced by your mitochondria. It is programmed in the morning by exposure to sunlight and released at night—typically between 2 and 4 am—in response to darkness. Melatonin plays an important role in regulating appetite, circadian rhythms, and sleep. Maintaining consistent bedtimes and wake times helps regulate your circadian rhythm and optimize melatonin release.

Mitochondria: Mitochondria extract energy from your environment —using photonic energy from sunlight and electrons and protons from food—and transform it into an electric current that powers the human body. Optimal health depends on the mitochondria’s ability to produce enough water to contain this electric current. When this process is impaired by factors such as poor sunlight exposure, non-native electromagnetic fields, or eating foods out of season, disease can result. Collectively, mitochondria make up about 10% of your body weight. Autophagy, the recycling of mitochondria, is regulated by red light, while apoptosis, the elimination of damaged cells to prevent cancer, is regulated by UV light. Mitochondria emit light energy in the form of ultra-weak biphotons

Mitochondrial water: Mitochondrial water is deuterium-depleted water produced by your mitochondria as your body reverses photosynthesis. This water helps insulate the electric currents generated by mitochondria and hydrates the proteins in your body, which is essential for their proper function.

Nitric oxide: Nitric oxide is a gas produced when UV sunlight (both UVA and UVB) comes into contact with your skin. This process promotes vasodilation, increases blood flow, and lowers blood pressure.

nnEMF: Non-native electromagnetic fields (nnEMF) include man-made sources such as electrical lines, radar, radio signals, and wireless devices. In contrast, the sun and the Earth's magnetic field are the only natural sources of electromagnetic fields.

Photosynthesis: Photosynthesis is the process by which all food on Earth is produced. Plants use carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight to create carbohydrates. Human mitochondria reverse this process by taking carbohydrates and converting them back into carbon dioxide and water.

POMC: Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) is a gene located in the eyes, skin, and various other tissues, and is activated by sunlight. It plays a role in tanning by stimulating melanin production, helps regulate appetite and body weight, controls blood sugar levels, and produces opioid-like effects that can promote a sense of well-being and contribute to sun-seeking behavior.

Pineal gland: The pineal gland is a small organ in the brain, sometimes called the “third eye,” that helps regulate the body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm) by measuring light and darkness through signals received through your eyes.

Red Light: Red light is the portion of visible light with wavelengths between 620 and 750 nanometers. It penetrates the skin and tissues, stimulates cellular energy production (ATP) in mitochondria, and is a major component of sunlight, especially during sunrise and sunset.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a condition marked by symptoms such as carbohydrate cravings, depression, irritability, sleepiness, and weight gain. It commonly affects people living at high latitudes during winter when sunlight is limited.

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN): The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the master biological clock located in the hypothalamus. It receives light signals from the eyes via the retinohypothalamic pathway and acts as the central pacemaker, coordinating circadian rhythms throughout the body based on environmental light.

Sun Cycle: Your personal sun cycle is determined by the times of sunrise and sunset at your specific location. In northern latitudes, daylight hours are shorter in winter and longer in summer, while at the equator, the length of daylight remains nearly constant throughout the year.

SunDiet™: The SunDiet™ is a lifestyle approach designed to synchronize your biology with the natural 24-hour circadian rhythm, focusing on mitigating environmental factors that accelerate aging and contribute to health issues. It suggests that poor light environments are a root cause of many health problems, which are further exacerbated by excessive technology use and poor dietary choices.

UVA Light: UVA light is a type of ultraviolet radiation from the sun that penetrates deeply into the skin and stimulates the release of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide relaxes and widens blood vessels, improving blood flow, lowering blood pressure, and supporting cardiovascular health.

UVB Light: UVB light is a type of ultraviolet radiation from the sun that is essential for human health. When UVB rays reach the skin, they stimulate the production of vitamin D, a nutrient vital for bone health, immune function, and overall well-being.

Zeitgeber: A zeitgeber is an environmental cue, or “time-giver,” that regulates an organism’s circadian rhythm. Morning sunlight is a major zeitgeber that helps synchronize your internal clock.