Mark Bell's Power Project The Sun Isn’t the Enemy: How Light Controls Dopamine, Hormones, and Health
Jan 26, 2026
David Herrera, a powerlifter-turned-biohacking educator who founded Solar Athlete, explains how sunlight, light spectrum, and environmental inputs shape hormones and dopamine. He contrasts sun vs narrow red light, explains morning light for kids, UVA/UVB roles, and how cold, red/infrared, and light timing interact. Practical hacks include sun breaks, windows, and combining cold with outdoor movement.
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Use Blue‑Light Blocking Strategically
- Wear blue-light blocking glasses indoors at night or in front of screens to protect melanopsin and preserve melatonin production.
- Remove them outdoors because daytime blue light needs to be present with red and UV for healthy signaling.
Sunlight Beats Narrow Red Panels
- Narrow-band red/near‑infrared panels help ATP but are not equivalent to full-spectrum sunlight and can be suboptimal alone.
- Sunlight is broad, non‑polarized and supplies UV, blue, red and infrared together for balanced cellular signaling.
Why Screens Feel Addictive
- Blue light alone degrades melanin in the retina and converts melanin to dopamine, producing an artificial wakefulness and screen 'addiction.'
- This depletes internal melanin reserves and promotes dopamine‑seeking behaviors.