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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