Light plays an essential role in the functioning of our biological clock. It is thanks to the light captured by our eyes that our brain can secrete some of the most important hormones in our daily lives: melatonin for sleep, cortisol for stress and serotonin for well-being.
Thus, winter with its lower luminosity generates fatigue and gloom, while in the northern regions, an almost permanent light makes it difficult to fall asleep. Light therefore has an effect on our behavior, whether it is natural light, since it is advisable to spend at least one hour a day, especially in winter, walking outside to take advantage of the benefits of light, or artificial light. The development and results observed by light therapy also show the benefits of this type of light.
This is the case, for example, of our motivation and our mood because natural light will improve our morale or the use of halogen lamps will facilitate, for example, the resynchronization of the body’s rhythms.
Light also plays a role on our vigilance and sleep whether it is to allow us to stay awake while driving at night or in front of the blue light of a screen to finish a file or to revise and conversely, to facilitate the falling asleep of young people by recommending not to keep a phone or a tablet while going to bed. Similarly, taking advantage of the intense light in the morning and playing sports, for example, stimulates alertness during the day and promotes a recuperative sleep.
Light favors the secretion of cortisol, a hormone that gives us energy and that is secreted in a programmed way by our internal clock. This programmed secretion is found in the recommendation to wake up at regular hours to have a maximum of energy during the day and in the feeling of being tired when we wake up later than usual, especially on weekends.
Finally, sunlight allows the production of vitamin D which is used to strengthen the immune system and reinforce the bones. An exposure of 15 minutes several times a week can be enough to store vitamin D and if in winter the light is not enough, it is advised to take vitamin D supplements.
As light has an impact on our metabolism, it is advisable to work in natural light whenever possible, as artificial light, if not properly managed, can lead to sleep disorders, a decrease in cognitive performance or metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
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