Scientists and doctors agree:permanent winter time is better for your health. But why is that better?
Winter time starts again this weekend. That means the clock is set back one hour. As a result, it gets light earlier in the morning and dark earlier in the evening.
Read also: 'This is the effect of too little light on your health'
Even though various scientific studies show that a permanent winter time is best for your heart, blood vessels, brain and the immune system, some people continue to suffer from a winter dip. How is that possible?
Koko Beert, sleep expert at the Brain Foundation:"The dark rainy days in autumn and winter lead to changes in our biological clock and our hormone balance." According to Beert, this can cause gloominess, concentration problems and fatigue.
According to doctors and scientists, by optimizing exposure to natural light you can minimize a winter dip. That is why Beers believes that winter time should be introduced permanently, because “it fits best with our day-night rhythm and causes the least disruption to sleep. In winter people get more morning light and in summer less evening light. We actually need more morning light for our biological clock.”
That morning light ensures a wakeful feeling and a good sleep-wake rhythm. Without light in the morning, the biological clock shifts to a later time.
Beers:“If we maintain a continuous winter time, the biological clock slows down less, we get more sunlight and we have a better sleep rhythm compared to working and school hours.”
