Soaking Up Rays May Give Your Testosterone a Boost
Could catching some rays give your testosterone levels a boost? According to neuroscientist Andrew Huberman, the answer is yes.
Huberman, a professor at Stanford School of Medicine, recently posted on Instagram that sunlight exposure can increase testosterone and estrogen levels. As he put it: “Sunlight on skin (mid-late day) = increased testosterone & estrogen. Don’t burn!”
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jack Jeng confirms Huberman’s claim. “Exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun has been shown to increase sex steroid levels in men, including total testosterone,” he explains. This sunlight-testosterone connection may even explain why men’s testosterone peaks in the summer and drops in the winter.
Previously, Huberman covered this phenomenon on his podcast while discussing research on how ultraviolet B rays (UVB) – the rays that cause sunburns – impact hormones. In one 2021 study, men who got 20-30 minutes of midday sun exposure 2-3 times per week saw noticeable testosterone level spikes.
Huberman explains that the skin plays a key role in this chain reaction. When UVB rays hit skin cells called keratinocytes, they activate the pituitary gland, which then releases hormones that trigger the testes to produce more testosterone. It’s a skin cell signaling cascade resulting in a surge of male sex hormones.
Sunshine also boosts vitamin D levels, which themselves correlate strongly with testosterone levels. Some research suggests UV rays may prompt the liver to convert vitamin D into forms that increase usable testosterone. But Dr. Jeng cautions too much sun carries skin cancer risks, so vitamin D supplements can safely achieve similar testosterone perks.
The takeaway? Carefully catching some midday rays may give your testosterone a healthy hike. But don’t ditch the sunscreen – absorbing sunlight in moderation while protecting skin remains key. Thanks for listening to Quiet Please. Remember to like and share wherever you get your podcasts. And Hey! History buffs, buckle up! Talking Time Machine isn't your dusty textbook lecture. It's where cutting-edge AI throws wild interview parties with history's iconic figures. In the Talking Time Machine podcast: History Gets a High-Tech Twist, Imagine: Napoleon Bonaparte talking French Politics with Louis the 14th! This podcast is futuristically insightful. Our AI host grills historical legends with questions based on real historical context, leading to surprising, thought-provoking, and often mind-blowing answers. Whether you're a history geek, a tech junkie, or just love a good interview, Talking Time Machine has something for you. Talking Time Machine: search, subscribe and (Listen Now!)