Morning light - The benefits of natural light on our health

Today the average person in the Western world spends 90% of their time indoors and as the seasons change in the UK, it can mean less natural light in the day and more artificial light at night. This is becoming increasingly connected to disrupted circadian rhythms and less sleep. More and more research tells us this can contribute to health consequences and even weight gain.

What are circadian rhythms?

Circadian rhythms are like a 24 hour internal clock and helps regulate your sleep and wake cycle. Although the hypothalamus in the brain controls your circadian rhythm, there are factors such as light and darkness that can also impact it. Circadian rhythms can influence so many bodily functions including sleep-wake cycles, hormone release, eating habits and digestion, body temperature. Biological clocks that run fast or slow can result in disrupted or abnormal circadian rhythms. Irregular rhythms have been linked to various chronic health conditions, such as sleep disorders, obesity, diabetes, depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you are struggling with insomnia and other sleep related issues due to hormonal changes related to menopause, this could be a really important issue to address and could make a difference to the quality of your sleep.

Read more about SAD and treatments such as Light Boxes recommended by the NHS