Between the shortened days and the cloudy sky, it is difficult to have enough light in winter. As a result, we feel more tired, less happy, less fit… and we look forward to sunny days! In short, light is vital to us, that’s obvious. But if need be, here are 3 concrete examples that demonstrate it.
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Light helps to have good eyesight
Two recent studies, in Taiwan and Denmark, have shown that children who play a lot outside have less risk of developing myopia. Light would boost dopamine, a neurotransmitter necessary for the functioning of the retina.
What happens when there is a lack of light? “We bring the object closer to our eyes, which leads to a phenomenon of hyperaccommodation “, explains Professor Christian Corbé. Insensibly the eye grows and becomes too long: it is myopia. The night lights also favor myopia. Not to mention that good vision, therefore good lighting, contributes to brain development. But it’s not just the eye that needs light to grow well. vitamin Dyet this vitamin is essential for bone and joint growth.
In practice : we multiply outdoor activities for children, we limit their access to screens, we ensure that their room has good lighting in the evening, and we maintain darkness during the night.
>> Read also:Lack of daylight responsible for myopia?
Light boosts morale
It was in 1984 that an American-South African psychiatrist Dr. Norman Rosenthal identified the phenomenon of seasonal depression. He has indeed shown that light plays an essential role in the regulation of our biological clocks. We use it today to fight against winter depression or to set our clocks straight after a jet lag. Stimulation of the retina by light rays causes a reaction of the brain which produces in particular serotonina neurotransmitter that plays a role in the feeling of well-being.
In practice : walk outside every day: even in gray weather, there is more light outside than at home! Opting for white walls that reflect light well is a good idea. In case of fragility, a dawn simulator or a light therapy lamp.
Light helps to age better
Maintaining good sleep is one of the best ways to stay alert and active. However, recalled Professor Françoise Forette, geriatrician, director of the ILC (International Center on Longevity) on the occasion of a day organized by the AFE (French Lighting Association), this sleep-wake rhythm is often disturbed with advancing age: we sleep during the day and have insomnia at night.
Exposing yourself to light during the day helps regulate your sleep-wake rhythm. And the gerontologist underlined the many positive impacts of light on the elderly: “it makes it possible to see the environment better and to avoid falls, to read and to have stimulating intellectual activities, to slow down osteoporosis, fight against depression, which is a real scourge among seniors. In addition, specifies Pr Christian Corbé, hospital ophthalmologist, president of the Health College of the AFE, good lighting improves the faculties of attention.
In practice: we open our shutters wide in the morning, we walk every day, if possible during the brightest hours of the day, we eliminate the old 40 watt bulbs and replace them with more powerful lighting.
