Light Deprivation: What Happens if You don't Get enough Sunlight?
Most of us learn early on in our lives what too much sun can do to us. We often hear, ‘Make sure to wear sunscreen -- you could get sunburnt or even develop skin cancer.’ or ‘Don’t look directly into the sun, or you’ll damage your eyes.’ But did you know that not enough sun can be detrimental too?
Proper sunlight exposure does more for our bodies than we may realize. It prompts our brain to produce serotonin, a hormone that wakes us up and gives us energy. That serotonin is then converted into melatonin at night, which helps us fall asleep more easily. Sunlight also helps our bodies produce vitamin D and can even benefit our heart, eye, and skin health!
Unfortunately, with Americans spending 90 percent of their time indoors on average, most of us don’t get enough sunlight. Without enough sunlight, our whole lives can be affected. In this article, we’ll outline exactly what can happen when we’re deprived of that necessary light and what you can do to make sure you get it.
Proper sunlight exposure does more for our bodies than we may realize. It prompts our brain to produce serotonin, a hormone that wakes us up and gives us energy. That serotonin is then converted into melatonin at night, which helps us fall asleep more easily. Sunlight also helps our bodies produce vitamin D and can even benefit our heart, eye, and skin health!
Unfortunately, with Americans spending 90 percent of their time indoors on average, most of us don’t get enough sunlight. Without enough sunlight, our whole lives can be affected. In this article, we’ll outline exactly what can happen when we’re deprived of that necessary light and what you can do to make sure you get it.
