Daylight - You Need It (and It's Free)

Humans may have the impression that they can live without natural sunlight - we invented electricity and artificial lighting after all so we could continue our activities indoors and at night. But natural daylight is something we can't do without for the sake of our health and spirits whether we have SAD or not.

Daylight - You Need It (and It's Free)
By Mary Ann Copson

We all want to have great sources of sustainable energy that keep us alert, creative, and happy. By designing a lifestyle that meets the needs of our body, keeps us healthy, and promotes our well being we will naturally generate sources of clean, sustainable energy.

Daylight is your fundamental source of clean personal energy. Light is a basic requirement for a healthy body. Sunlight is crucial to normal health and wellness. You absorb and use different components of sunlight through your eyes and skin. Being exposed to adequate sunlight is essential for your mental alertness, your emotional well being and the proper production of hormones.

Light regulates your internal biorhythmic cycles that govern the ebb and flow of your physiology and contributes to longevity, immunity, and sexual functioning. Sunlight is the best source of vitamin D and exposure to sunlight has been shown to be protective against some forms of cancer.

Light deprivation can lead to stress symptoms, fatigue, mental fogginess, depression, hyperactivity, difficulty concentrating, weakened bones and teeth and weakened immune responses.

You need to be exposed to at least 1,000 lux of light in order to receive the health and well being benefits of light. The best light is sunlight. Even at daybreak the sun's light is much brighter than indoor light. At daybreak, with the first glimmer of sunlight there is already 800 lux of light in the atmosphere. Around 40 minutes after sunrise the light intensity increases to 10,000 lux. Sunlight at noon on a bright summer day measures about 100,000 lux. Normal room lighting is about 500 lux with some reading light providing 1,000 lux. All natural daylight, even on an overcast, rainy, or cloudy day is brighter than normal indoor light.

Our minds need at least 1,000 lux of light for increased alertness, concentration, and creativity. Our emotional well being needs that light for increased harmony, peace, and vitality. Make it a regular part of your healthy life to get out in the early morning sun light. Expose yourself to moderate amounts of sunlight regularly by taking a walk in the fresh air and sunlight between 6:00 and 8:00 AM for about 30 minutes. Do not wear sunglasses as the light enters the body primarily through the eyes.

At this time in the morning the sun's rays are not so intense that you risk getting sunburn but are bright enough to give the healthy benefits of light. Do not expose yourself for too long and get out of the sun if your skins starts to feel hot and begins to redden.

If you cannot get out in the early morning sunlight get out in the late afternoon sunlight (after 3:00 PM). For your total health and peak performance requirements you need to have approximately two hours of daylight exposure every day.

If you have problems with depression, seasonal affective disorder, disruption in your wake-sleep cycle or are a shift worker, you will have special needs and solutions in regard to light exposure. It is best to consult a professional who is familiar with these situations to help you outline the best timing and amount of light exposure.

Mary Ann Copson is the creator of the Evenstar Mood and Energy Management System for Women. With Master's Degrees in Human Development and in Psychology and Counseling, Mary Ann is a Certified Licensed Nutritionist, a Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, a Brain Chemistry Profile Clinician, a Professional Life Coach and Human Development Consultant. For resources about reconnecting to your natural rhythms through better management of your physical, emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual energy visit http://evenstaronline.com

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See Light Therapy for more information on dealing with the lack of light in winter through artificial means if you are unable to spend enough time out of doors.