Does Light Impact Cellular Health and Inflammation More Than Food? With Dr. Sara Pugh

In this episode, Dr. Jockers dives deep with Dr. Sara Pugh into how light influences your mitochondria, hormones, and inflammation in ways food alone never could. You’ll hear how sunrise sets your body clock, why sunset prepares your system for rest, and how the balance of light and darkness fuels cellular health.   You’ll learn how artificial blue light at night can disrupt cortisol, blood sugar, and cravings, and why the wrong kind of light exposure can be just as damaging as poor nutrition. Discover why your mitochondria respond to light as much as to food and how this hidden factor impacts your mood, metabolism, and resilience.   We also explore practical steps—like grounding, sauna use, and cold therapy—that boost your energy and improve sleep. Along the way, you’ll find out why sunscreen and sunglasses may do more harm than good, and how structured water and omega-3 fats fit into the bigger picture of cellular repair. In This Episode: 00:00 Understanding the Benefits of Sunrise and UV Light 02:23 Introduction to Dr. Sara Pugh and Quantum Biology 03:11 The Importance of Sunlight and Mitochondrial Health 15:26 The Role of UVA and UVB Light in Health 20:39 The Impact of Light on Metabolism and Hormones 25:54 Structured Water and Its Health Benefits 32:32 The Power of Keystone Bacteria 32:35 Why Most New Year's Resolutions Fail 32:53 The Problem with Probiotics 33:44 A Nine-Day Fasting Experiment 36:30 Understanding Leptin and Its Effects 37:49 The Role of Blue Light and Vitamin A 38:29 The Leptin Melanocortin Pathway 38:56 Low Leptin and Its Causes 41:55 The Importance of Lab Testing 43:12 Breaking a Long Fast: Lessons Learned 46:17 The Benefits of Sauna and Cold Therapy 50:09 Cold Face Plunge: A Simple Hack 53:15 Connecting with Nature and Embracing Discomfort 55:14 Balancing Cortisol and Growth Hormone Looking for a clean, nutrient-packed snack? Paleo Valley’s Grass-Fed Meat Sticks are free from sugar, additives, and preservatives—just pure protein and healthy fats to keep cravings in check and support muscle and immune health. They come in delicious flavors like Original, Garlic Summer Sausage, and Teriyaki, and they’re even kid-approved. Try them today and get 15% off your order at paleovalley.com/jockers. Think heartburn comes from too much stomach acid? Think again. Most digestive issues actually stem from too little stomach acid. That’s why I recommend Just Thrive Digestive Bitters—they naturally stimulate stomach acid, bile, and enzymes to improve digestion, reduce bloating, and boost nutrient absorption. Save 20% off your order with code JOCKERS at justthrivehealth.com.   "The two biggest deficiencies driving chronic disease aren’t nutrients—they’re sunlight and darkness."     Subscribe to the podcast on: Apple Podcast Stitcher Spotify PodBean  TuneIn Radio   Resources: Get 15% off Paleovalley: paleovalley.com/jockers – Use code JOCKERS Save 20% on Just Thrive: justthrivehealth.com – Use code JOCKERS     Connect with Dr. Sara Pugh: Website: https://busysuperhuman.com/ Connect with Dr. Jockers: Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/drjockers/ Facebook – https:/www.facebook.com/DrDavidJockers YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/djockers Website – https://drjockers.com/ If you are interested in being a guest on the show, we would love to hear from you! Please contact us here! - https://drjockers.com/join-us-dr-jockers-functional-nutrition-podcast/