Sun Exposure

The sun has been revered by cultures throughout history, and since the beginning of human civilization as we know it.  Throughout time it has been a symbol of life, vitality, hope, and good.  In recent years, however, concerns about the potential risks of UV exposure have led many people to avoid natural sunlight altogether. Furthermore, it is common practice for people to cover themselves in toxic sunscreens when they do choose to venture out into the sun, blocking many of the potential benefits and creating new potential harms.


While it is important to protect your skin from overexposure to the sun - overexposure meaning getting sunburned - by wearing protective clothing and limiting exposure when necessary, it's also crucial to recognize that sunlight offers numerous benefits for both your skin and your overall health. In this blog post, I will lay out just a few of the reasons why sun exposure is good for your body and your mind.


1 - Vitamin D Production

I’ve covered this benefit in a previous blog post - “Vitamin D and Supplementation” - but it’s worth a quick review.  One of the most well-known benefits of sun exposure is its role in the production of vitamin D. When your skin is exposed to sunlight, it synthesizes vitamin D, which is a hormone that is essential for various bodily functions. Vitamin D helps regulate calcium levels in the body, boosts the immune system, supports bone health, and has been linked to a reduced risk of chronic diseases, including certain autoimmune disorders and cancers.


2 - Skin Health

Contrary to the mainstream belief that sun exposure is detrimental to your skin, moderate sun exposure can benefit your skin health in several ways, such as:

  • Psoriasis and Eczema Relief - Sun exposure can alleviate symptoms of psoriasis and eczema, two common and potentially painful skin conditions. The UVB rays in sunlight slow down the rapid growth of skin cells and reduce inflammation.

  • Acne Improvement - Sun exposure can help reduce acne by drying out excess oil and decreasing inflammation.

  • Improved Skin Tone - Sun exposure can lead to a healthy glow and improved skin tone by stimulating melanin production. This melanin will also provide some protection against UV rays, which helps prevent burning.


3 - Cardiovascular Health

Exposure to sunlight has also been associated with improved cardiovascular health. There are studies suggesting that the production of nitric oxide in the skin, which is stimulated by UV rays, can help lower blood pressure. Additionally, the positive effects on mood and reduced stress can contribute to a healthier heart.


4 - Mood Enhancement

As briefly mentioned above, spending time in the sun has a positive impact on mood and mental well-being. This is because, among other things, sunlight stimulates the production of serotonin, the "feel-good hormone." This increase in serotonin levels can help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, improve overall mood, and enhance one’s quality of life. Sun exposure can also help regulate your circadian rhythm, promoting better sleep and a more consistent sleep-wake cycle.


So let’s go ahead and sum this all up:  Sun exposure can offer numerous benefits for both your skin and your overall health.  While getting sunburned can indeed cause damage to the skin and body (and should be avoided by using shade, protective clothing, and limiting time in the sun when in danger of overexposure), smart sun exposure has many long-term and short-term health benefits worth pursuing.

Case Study: Logan's Journey

Case Study: Logan's Journey

I first met Logan when he walked into my office in February of 2022.  He was coming in for a job interview at the gym where I am the manager and head coach.  In this interview, I learned that Logan started CrossFit early in life, much earlier than most, and would go to the gym with his dad when he was in middle school.  He officially joined an affiliate when he was in high school, and would go whenever he was between school sports.  Logan loved the sport of fitness so much that he got his L1 coaching certification for his 17th birthday (Side note - what other kid asks for continuing education for his 17th birthday?), and decided to pursue a degree in kinesiology at Purdue University.  It was his college graduation that brought him into my office, looking for a new gym and a new job.

Why Dairy Free?

Why Dairy Free?

I talk to almost all of my athletes about dairy. Some I ask to remove dairy completely, at least for a period of 30 days or longer. Others I encourage to simply reduce dairy to the best of their abilities. There are a few exceptions of course, as none of my protocols are one-size-fits-all. But why do I do this? Why remove dairy, or reduce it, in the first place?

How to Read Nutrition Labels

How to Read Nutrition Labels

No matter which of my programs you choose to do, or what your goals are, or what your “deal-breakers” are, I encourage every single one of my athletes to eat as much real, whole, unprocessed foods as possible.  While we always go into more detail and different nuances of this request on a case-by-case basis, it’s fair to say it’s my baseline.  Eat real, whole foods as often as possible, limit or eliminate processed foods to the degree that you are willing and able.

Don't Drop (Amino) Acid(s)

Don't Drop (Amino) Acid(s)

Here I go again, talking about protein.  You already get it, right?  The importance of eating animal protein, the importance of eating enough animal protein, the importance of adequate protein and how it will help you with virtually every health-related goal.  If you feel like half the time I’m trying to stress some point about protein, you’re probably right.

But there is another stone left unturned here (definitely more than one if I’m being honest).  There’s more nuance to the story.  What’s important is not simply the amount of protein, nor just where the protein comes from, but the type of protein.  More specifically, the ratios and amounts of amino acids that we consume.  Now to be clear, there are a lot of important amino acids (being building blocks of life and whatnot), but in this blog I will focus on methionine and glycine.

Red Light Therapy

Red Light Therapy

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been seeing, reading, and hearing more and more about red light therapy. If so, then you might also have some questions - What’s the deal here? Is it a scam? If it’s not a scam, is it something I should be using? How and why would I use it?

I can’t promise that I have all of the answers to these questions - in fact I’ll tell you that I don’t. I have, however, done some digging into red light therapy, and I’m going to share what I’ve learned and what I’ve taken away from it.

Post Workout Nutrition

Post Workout Nutrition

At Lean Mean Green Health, I work with athletes. While not all of my athletes would consider themselves as such when we first start working together, I am a firm believer in the idea that “if you have a body you are an athlete” (how you try to use, or not use, that athleticism is up to you). Furthermore, as is stated at the very top of my website, I specialize in working with those who are pursuing a physical passion. From weightlifters to runners, from tactical athletes to yoga instructors, I have spent most of my career working with those who are chasing athletic goals. Due to this, it is not uncommon that I will be asked about post-workout nutrition. When should it happen? What should it consist of? What should be prioritized, and what should be avoided? Well team, today’s the day we make things clear(er) - Let’s go over some key points of post-workout nutrition.