How to Break a Water Fast

 

Rediscovering Vitality: How Sunlight Became a Healing Tool

In a recent episode of The Aging Games Podcast, host Lynn Hardy sat down with Natalie Collier, also known as Nat the Sunwhore, for a transformative conversation about health, grief, and the profound power of nature. Natalie’s story is not just about weight loss; it is a testament to how returning to our most fundamental biological needs—specifically light—can help the body heal from chronic illness.

A Journey Through Grief and Autoimmunity

Natalie shared her deeply personal struggle following the loss of her mother, who suffered from Lewy body dementia. The intense stress of caregiving, combined with the subsequent grief, took a severe toll on her physical health. She found herself battling Hashimoto’s disease, significant weight gain, extreme exhaustion, and a feeling of disconnection from her own body. Despite living a holistic, homestead-based lifestyle, her health continued to decline, leaving her feeling like her body was betraying her.

The Power of Circadian Alignment

Everything shifted when Natalie stumbled upon the concept of healing through sunlight. She began to treat her circadian rhythm as a non-negotiable foundation for health. Her approach was simple but radical in today’s indoor-focused world: prioritize morning and evening sunlight, avoid blue light exposure, and reconnect with the earth.

By consistently getting outside, grounding her bare feet in the grass, and allowing her body to respond to natural light signals, she experienced a dramatic shift. Her energy returned, her brain fog lifted, and her hormones began to regulate. Over time, this focus on light and movement helped her lose 65 pounds and brought her Hashimoto’s into remission.

Redefining Connection with Nature

Natalie emphasizes that sunlight is more than just vitamin D; it is a critical signaling mechanism for every cell in our body. She argues that we have become divorced from the natural signals of nature, which has contributed to widespread metabolic dysfunction. By exposing the skin—and even more sensitive areas—to full-spectrum light, she suggests that we can stimulate hormone production and support the body's natural detox pathways.

To support others on this path, Natalie developed Sun Scoop, a mineral-rich, food-based supplement designed to help the body produce and maintain melanin, which she describes as a living energy force that protects against environmental stressors.

Key Takeaways for Your Own Health Journey

• Morning Sunlight is foundational: Even 5 to 20 minutes of early morning sun, without sunglasses or blue light exposure, can make a measurable difference in hormonal health.
• Nourish the Body: Natalie advocates for a nutrient-dense, protein-rich breakfast to avoid spiking cortisol levels first thing in the morning.
• Listen to Intuition: Healing often involves unlearning modern habits—like fearing the sun or chronic intermittent fasting—and listening to what your body truly needs to feel safe and regulated.
• Community and Ritual: Building simple, daily rituals around movement and the outdoors can turn a health "chore" into an enjoyable lifestyle.

Natalie’s story is a reminder that while the modern world is filled with complex wellness trends, sometimes the answers to our most persistent health challenges are right outside our door.