Returning to nature can improve sleep patterns
Published on February 3, 2017 at 7:09 AM ยท No Comments
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By Kate Bass, BSc
New sleep research has shown that by respecting nature and keeping days light and nights dark we can improve our sleep patterns.
Our ancestors, without the means for artificial lighting, worked during hours of light, socialised around the fire as dusk arrived and slept while it was dark. Our circadian rhythm, the body clock deep in our brain that regulates when the body is active and when it slows down, is therefore highly responsive to daylight. The fall of darkness triggers the release of melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep and prepares the body for rest by reducing metabolic and cognitive processes.
Today, with electric lighting, televisions, laptops and smart phones, the distinction between night and day has become more blurred. Furthermore, although the health risks associated with inadequate sleep are well known, sleep still does not rate highly on the list of priorities in many societies. Indeed, it was reported that 20% of the population in the USA have less than 6 hours sleep a night on week days.
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20170203/Returning-to-nature-can-improve-sleep-patterns.aspx
