Why is light so important?

Light controls your biological clock, the 24-hour rhythm that determines when you are alert and when you sleep. In the morning, daylight increases the hormone cortisol and raises serotonin levels, while melatonin, the sleep hormone, decreases; too little daylight works exactly the other way around. Research shows that 20 to 30 minutes of bright light reaching your eyes can reduce sleepiness and improve reaction speed. Below, you can read how light controls your biological clock and when it is better to use blue or white light.

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Have you ever wondered why you feel energetic and positive on some days, while on other days it seems like a constant struggle against fatigue and low spirits? Or why, during the winter months, when the days become shorter, you sometimes experience unexplained gloominess?

Importance of light

We need light in our lives to be able to see, but besides this important aspect, light also plays a role in regulating our sleep rhythm and is essentially the foundation of life. Our bodies must constantly synchronize with the natural environment, which is why we need light and darkness at specific times of the day. The body needs a good balance between light and darkness.

Research shows that light has a direct influence on the parts of our brains linked to alertness and cognition. This means that exposing our eyes to bright light for 20 to 30 minutes can reduce feelings of sleepiness and improve reaction speed.

Exposure of our eyes to light clearly has an effect on our bodies. In the morning, light causes an increase in the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is essential for the body to function properly. It regulates the body's stress responses and helps you feel fit while protecting the body from the effects of illness, injury, or stress. When our bodies are exposed to a stressful situation, an extra-high cortisol level is needed to keep going. At night, exposure to light increases body temperature and heart rate while reducing the amount of melatonin, the sleep hormone. When the body is exposed to sufficient daylight, the sleep hormone decreases and serotonin, the happiness hormone, increases. The reverse is also true… When the sleep hormone increases, the happiness hormone decreases. In short, the less daylight, the less ‘happy’ you feel.

Light affects not only what we see, but also how we feel and function. Discover how daylight lamps can reset your biological clock and improve your energy and mood.

Your biological clock

Our biological clock is an important aspect of our health. This part of your brain supposedly regulates everything in our bodies and follows a 24-hour rhythm. If this clock becomes disrupted, damage can occur in your body. A well-functioning biological clock is therefore essential for good health. With a daylight lamp, it is possible to get your biological clock back on track and, among other things, prevent a disrupted sleep rhythm.

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Morning light and darkness

We need morning light and darkness for a good sleep rhythm, a good night's sleep, and an energetic day. You have probably noticed yourself that you have more energy when you have slept well and it is a beautiful sunny day. If it is dark during the day, this can lead to gloomy feelings and therefore to a winter dip during the darker months of the year.

For people who suffer from the winter blues—in other words, seasonal changes—bright light, particularly in the morning, can improve their mood. Bright light can counteract a lack of energy in just 20 to 30 minutes. Bright light, whether artificial or from the sun, appears to be highly effective for mood swings during the darker times of the year.

More energy through light

When bright light enters through our eyes, we become more alert and less sleepy. As a result, we feel more energetic. As long as it is dark outside, our eyes are adapted to darkness. Even a low light intensity from the daylight lamp may then be sufficient to activate your body. If you experience sleepiness during the day, increase the lamp's light intensity. This will increase your alertness.

Blue or white light?

When discussing daylight lamps, we refer to bright white light and blue light, among other types. But when should you use which color, and at what time of day? The best effect of light depends on the color combined with the right timing.

White light contains all the colors of the light spectrum, including a fraction of blue light. Blue light is best for controlling our biological clock. It increases your energy level. However, be careful, because blue light can therefore disrupt your sleep. For this reason, it is recommended to use blue light particularly in the morning if you have difficulty getting up.

Disruptions to the biological clock are caused, among other things, by a lot of bright light in the evening, for example from smartphones or tablets, as well as by working night shifts or experiencing jet lag after flying across different time zones. If you are very tired early in the evening, exposure to bright light can, in turn, be effective.

Exposure to light during the day provides more energy and a better mood. The more blue light white light contains, the less light is needed to trigger a response. It is not necessary to expose your eyes to a large amount of blue light, so make sure you do not look directly into the light and do not use it for longer than the recommended 30 minutes.

Liroma daylight lamps pose no risk to normal, healthy eyes. The screen is equally bright throughout and contains the same concentration. In addition, the lamp is UV-free.