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Morning Sunlight Cortisol

Meaning

Morning Sunlight Cortisol describes the crucial physiological interaction where exposure to bright, full-spectrum light, specifically shortly after waking, acts as a potent environmental signal to trigger and reinforce the robust early morning surge of the stress hormone cortisol. This light-mediated signal is essential for establishing the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR), which facilitates the transition from sleep to wakefulness and sets the tone for the entire diurnal hormonal rhythm. Strategic light timing is a key tool for HPA axis regulation and energy optimization.