2008 Woodie Awards
Letters to the Editor: Cure for the winter blues
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: Opinion
"Winter Blues" is the common term for something called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - a condition that affects more than 40 million North Americans annually. Researchers now understand that a main cause of winter blues and SAD is the lack of regular sun exposure -both bright light and ultraviolet (UVB) light that many experience in the winter. Only recently did doctors figure out how lack of sunlight can cause SAD and winter blues:
•Bright, natural sunlight triggers the production of serotonin in the brain - a substance responsible for transmitting impulses in the body. It is thought to be a natural, intentional "upper" - when we see light in the morning, serotonin gets us going.
•When we don't see bright, natural sunlight our bodies produce melatonin - a natural downer that our bodies associate with nighttime. Natural light exposure is critical to keeping serotonin and melatonin in balance.
Even more recently, doctors have discovered how regular exposure to ultraviolet light helps to prevent and combat SAD and winter blues:
•We now know that our skin naturally produces "endorphins" - substances that make us feel good - when exposed to UVB in sunlight. Doctors incorrectly used to think only bright light to the eyes triggered endorphin production.'
•Research now shows that vitamin D positively affects mood in the winter and is linked to natural brain function. Now more than ever we understand the importance of regular, non-burning sun exposure as an important, natural part of our lives. Find out more at these web sites:www.SunshineVitamin.org, www.VitaminDsociety.org, www.VitaminDcouncil.org and www.UVadvantage.org.
Vanessa Steffen
Sunshine Vitamin Alliance
Volunteer
•Bright, natural sunlight triggers the production of serotonin in the brain - a substance responsible for transmitting impulses in the body. It is thought to be a natural, intentional "upper" - when we see light in the morning, serotonin gets us going.
•When we don't see bright, natural sunlight our bodies produce melatonin - a natural downer that our bodies associate with nighttime. Natural light exposure is critical to keeping serotonin and melatonin in balance.
Even more recently, doctors have discovered how regular exposure to ultraviolet light helps to prevent and combat SAD and winter blues:
•We now know that our skin naturally produces "endorphins" - substances that make us feel good - when exposed to UVB in sunlight. Doctors incorrectly used to think only bright light to the eyes triggered endorphin production.'
•Research now shows that vitamin D positively affects mood in the winter and is linked to natural brain function. Now more than ever we understand the importance of regular, non-burning sun exposure as an important, natural part of our lives. Find out more at these web sites:www.SunshineVitamin.org, www.VitaminDsociety.org, www.VitaminDcouncil.org and www.UVadvantage.org.
Vanessa Steffen
Sunshine Vitamin Alliance
Volunteer
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