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