How Trees Supercharge Your Mitochondria and Boost Your Energy
BALA BITES: WHY YOUR MITOCHONDRIA LOVE TREES
Spring is here. The leaves are back. The air feels lighter. The days feel longer.
In other words, it’s a great time to be outside.
We all know nature feels good.
But here’s something you probably didn’t know: Tree leaves reflect a form of light your cells absolutely love.
According to Dr. Roger Seheult, when sunlight hits leaves, it reflects infrared (IR) light and that IR light may improve your health at the cellular level.
As if you needed another reason to get outside?
WHAT IS INFRARED LIGHT?
Infrared light is part of the sun’s spectrum.
It sits just beyond the visible red range and has longer wavelengths than the light we can see. It is most present at sunrise and sunset.
You can’t see IR light — but you can sometimes feel it as warmth.
More importantly, your cells respond to it.
IR light interacts with your mitochondria — the energy engines inside your cells — through a process called photobiomodulation (PBM).
This process helps mitochondria produce more energy (ATP), stabilize their membranes, and reduce oxidative stress.
Translation: IR light makes your cells more efficient, more productive and better at bouncing back.
This is more than theory.
- Studies show IR light can boost ATP production by 20–50% in vitro
- Clinical trials show benefits for wound healing, muscle recovery, and neurodegenerative conditions
- Animal studies show IR light increases mitochondrial biogenesis and reduces inflammation
It's why many health leaders talk about taking in sunrises and sunsets when you can.
THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF TREES
Leaves don’t absorb much IR light — they reflect it.
Like thousands of tiny green mirrors bouncing back a wavelength your body can use.
That’s why leaves appear bright or white in infrared photos.
So when you are walking in the woods, sitting under a tree, or lying in the grass...you’re not just relaxing.
You’re bathing in a natural source of mitochondrial medicine.
And your body knows exactly what to do with it.
WHY MITOCHONDRIAL HEALTH MATTERS
This isn’t just another “nature is good for you” idea.
This is real cellular biology.
Andrew Huberman laid it out in a February 2025 podcast with Dr. Seheult.
Sunlight + green spaces = more IR light
IR light = stronger, healthier mitochondria
Stronger mitochondria = more energy, resilience, and recovery
It's pretty simple when you think about it that way.
It’s not about the light you see. It’s about the light your body feels.
WHAT TO DO
Get outside. But don’t just run your errands or log your steps.
Get near trees. Sit in the grass. Take the long way through the park.
Do what the Japanese call forest bathing.
When you tap into the health benefits of trees, you can boost your body's ability to produce energy at the cellular level
You just have to stop looking at your blue-light screen when you are doing it.
No need to complicate it. Just be where the leaves are.
Your body will take care of the rest.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Surrounding yourself with nature, especially trees, can significantly improve your mitochondrial health and overall energy production
- Research shows that tree leaves can enhance cellular energy and vitality as a result of infrared light
- Trees naturally emit infrared light that stimulates photobiomodulation, a process crucial for optimizing mitochondrial function
FURTHER READING
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