While many people are well aware of the dangers of too much exposure to sunlight, not everyone is aware of the beneficial aspects of short periods of exposure to natural light. In fact, enjoying the daylight from time to time can make a big difference in how people feel, think, and perform.
Full spectrum lighting in the form of sunlight provides a lot of nutrition for human beings. Many are aware of the way that natural light helps to produce Vitamin C. However, not everyone is aware of how the sun can make a big difference in Vitamin D levels in the body. Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that helps with alleviating depression, aids in the absorption of other vitamins and minerals, and is believed to help minimize the chances of developing several types of cancer. Since Vitamin D is produces the moment that sunlight touches your skin, short periods of exposure to natural light will allow you to easily obtain enough Vitamin D each day to help your body fight off a number of ailments.
Light therapy can also be helpful with various types of anxiety disorders. For example, the nervousness and melancholy connected with Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD can be attributed to a lack of exposure to natural light. People who tend to stay indoors and out of the sun at all costs are much more likely to develop this condition, possibly progressing on to a fully blown panic disorder or depression. Fifteen or twenty minutes spent in natural light each day can make a huge difference.
Even many businesses are finding that by creating work environments where employees have the chance to enjoy natural light will increase the bottom line. Workers who are able to work near windows or in spaces equipped with a skylight tend to be less prone to negative emotions, are able to focus on tasks with greater ease, and in general are more productive and happy with their work.
Exposure to natural light can also be very practical for some people. Allowing daylight into the home helps to minimize the reliance on electricity to create artificial light in the space, thus reducing the monthly power bill. People with less than perfect vision often find it is easier to observe small details when using natural light instead of artificial light. There are some anecdotal reports of people recovering faster from colds and even surgical procedures if they are exposed to a certain amount of sunlight each day.