Beat the Winter Blues & SAD

Natural light is an essential part of daily life. Light regulates our “biological clock” – a small cluster of cells in the brain that governs our sense of time and affects how energetic and alert we feel. The positive effect of bright artificial light on human mood and performance has been thoroughly researched and is recognized by many respected organizations, including the National Institutes of Health, the American Psychiatry Association, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Generally people feel active and upbeat when they get lots of natural light during the sunny days of spring and summer. But the short, dark days of winter can have the opposite effect. When natural light is limited, many people gain weight, have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, and generally feel lethargic and moody – all symptoms of what is commonly known as “winter blues” or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Most people who experience winter blues can get prompt relief by using BioBrite’s healthy lighting products.

Typically people who use a light supplement begin using it in the fall when days start to get shorter and taper off use in the spring as the number of daylight hours increases. They are normally used every day in the morning just after waking, although there is evidence that they can also be helpful at other times of the day.

Light Visor and lightbox users typically use them 20-to-60 minutes daily.  Extended bright light use at high intensities for more than two hours is not recommended because it can disturb sleep patterns. There is a significant amount of variation in how individuals respond to light.  Response variation may depend in part on external factors such as local weather patterns, latitude,and physical environment. For example, a person living in Alaska and working in a windowless office is likely to need more supplemental light than a person living in California working in an outdoor construction job.

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