Many years ago, humans were governed only by natural light, and there were even religions that worshiped sunlight and saw it as the source of all life. Over time and with the advancement of technology, the way we live and work has changed drastically, making us far more dependent on artificial light than we would like.

90% of our time is spent indoors, yet the need for humans to be exposed to sunlight has not gone away and remains crucial to our health. Let’s find out at what levels natural light is so important to our lives!

 

  • Vitamin D

 

When we are exposed to sunlight, our skin absorbs Vitamin D, which is a crucial nutrient for our body, which can influence our bones, intestines, immune and cardiovascular systems and even cells.

 

 

 

  • Humor

 

During the winter, the amount of hours we are exposed to sunlight decreases, which can make us feel more depressed and lethargic at this time.

This is why it is so important to be exposed to sunlight whenever possible, as it helps our brain to produce serotonin. This is a hormone that improves our mood, decreasing pain and providing energy to our body.

Sunlight also produces endorphins, known as the feel-good hormone.

 

 

  • Sleep

 

We all have an “inner” clock that regulates our sleep, telling our bodies when to sleep and when to be awake. This watch is governed by sunlight and is known for its circadian rhythm.

Too little or too much sun exposure can disrupt this rhythm, directly influencing how we sleep and how long we sleep.

Sunlight also helps regulate the hormone melatonin, decreasing our body’s ability to produce it. Therefore, during the day we have little melatonin in the body, which means we have more energy and at night we have more melatonin, which gives us sleep and allows us to sleep better.

 

  • Sustainability

 

Sunlight is also important for sustainability, as spaces optimized to receive as much sunlight as possible, whether at home or at work, require less artificial light or heating.

This makes us need to consume less electricity, which is beneficial  for planet earth and our wallet!