Solar charging…for your body? Here are the facts behind the claims.

Have you heard the latest wellness chatter about sunlight?

“The sun is nature’s multivitamin!” they say. “It charges you like a Tesla battery!”

 It promises everything from sharper focus to better sleep and endless energy, just by stepping outside. 

Tempting, right? 

At OE Electrics, we’re all for working smarter, not harder. So the idea that sunlight could boost your energy like a natural charger definitely caught our attention.

But before we start rearranging OE House to face due east…

We wanted to see some proof. 

Is sunlight really the effortless energy upgrade it’s made out to be? 

Or just another wellness myth that sounds good on Instagram?

So we dug into PubMed and NIH, determined to learn the truth. And the truth…is that we kind of got converted. 

Because while the sun doesn’t exactly charge you like a Tesla battery (that’s oversimplified) the science on sunlight and human energy is surprisingly solid.

Here are 3 sun-charging truths worth knowing:

TRUTH #1: Sunlight sets your body clock

Your body runs on circadian rhythms, 24-hour cycles that control everything from energy to hormones. Morning light is one of the strongest signals your brain uses to set that rhythm.

When sunlight hits receptors in your eyes, it tells your brain it’s daytime, which leads to:

• More energy via a rise in cortisol (your “wake up” hormone)

• Better mood & focus through serotonin production

• Deeper sleep later, as melatonin is released on time

Without morning sunlight — especially if you’re getting blue light from screens instead — your internal clock drifts and you end up sluggish during the day and restless at night.

Practical tip: Get 10-30 minutes of natural light in your eyes before 10am. Sunlight before screenlight is the golden rule when it comes to circadian rhythms.

(Sources: J Pharmacol Pharmacother, Sleep Foundation, Nature, J Health Psychol)

TRUTH #2: Red & near-infrared light boost energy production

The buzzy claim is that sun exposure makes you you feel like you just plugged yourself into a fast charger (fast charger…did someone say TUF-R®? ) But is it true?

Sunlight contains red and near-infrared wavelengths that penetrate deep into your tissues. They interact with mitochondria (the “power plants” of your cells) and can:

• Increase ATP (adenosine triphosphate) in mitochondria, which is like your cells minting extra fuel

• Reduce inflammation & oxidative stress

• Speed up repair and recovery

This field (called photobiomodulation) is growing fast. It’s why red-light therapy devices are marketed for everything from pain relief to fertility right now. And while some claims are ahead of the science, studies show that these wavelengths support healthier energy production at the cellular level.

Practical tip: Skip the £500 gadget for now. Just step outside, the sun gives you the full spectrum for free.

(Sources: Eye, Frontiers in Neuroscience, Biology Letters)

TRUTH #3: Sunlight = Vitamin D factory

This one is better known but still underestimated. When UVB light hits your skin, it triggers the production of active Vitamin D, the form your body can use most effectively.

Why does this matter for energy levels? Because Vitamin D plays a role in:

• Mood. Receptors in the brain’s mood centers rely on it. Deficiency is linked with depression and fatigue, which feel like low energy.

• Immune function. Vitamin D helps regulate inflammation and supports defenses. Less energy wasted fighting germs = more energy for you.

• Muscle strength. Low levels can cause weakness that feels like fatigue.

• Sleep quality. It interacts with melatonin pathways so deficiency may disrupt sleep.

Supplements are useful, but studies show sunlight creates a more bio-available version of Vitamin D than pills. And sunlight delivers other benefits (like serotonin boosts and circadian alignment) that a capsule can’t match.

(Sources: Harvard Health, Dermatoendocrinol, Endocrine Reviews, Nutrients, J Clinical Endocrinology)

After digging through the research, this skeptic will admit that the evidence shows the wellness influencers were probably right about sunlight after all.

Wellness gurus: 1, OE: 0.

At OE Electrics, we don’t just think about power in sockets. We think about power in the broader sense — how we charge, conserve, and use energy wisely.

Whether it’s designing charging systems that cut waste (hello, 60% post-consumer recycled plastic!)… or nudging you to grab a bit of morning sun… we believe smarter energy use benefits everyone.

So tomorrow morning, before you open your inbox, step outside. Your circadian rhythm will thank you.

It might just be the cheapest, cleanest power upgrade you’ll ever get.

P.S. If you’re curious, there’s a Huberman Lab episode that dives deep into sunlight science. I found the way he ties literature together helpful. Listen to it here.