THE BENEFITS OF
FULL SPECTRUM LIGHTING
THE BENEFITS OF
FULL SPECTRUM LIGHTING
All life on our planet has adapted to and is nourished by light from the sun and sky, a critical balance of visible color and invisible ultraviolet wavelengths. Over the ages, virtually every living thing developed with the help of Nature’s Full Spectrum. Today most people don’t get enough sunlight because they spend so much time indoors, and most lack the understanding of lighting and that there is significant difference is type, and quality of lighting available.
Most lighting in homes, schools, offices, factories, stores, is so bad that many health disorders can be traced to the lack of natural lighting. Natural sunlight and various forms of light therapy can help reestablish the body’s natural rhythm (circadian rhythm - the body’sinner clock) which controls timing of sleep, hormone production, body temperature, and other biological functions. Disturbances in this rhythm can lead to health problems such as depression (SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder) and sleep disorders. Light therapy and the use ofnatural full spectrum lighting (Vita-Lite) are becoming an integral treatment for many related health conditions.
How Light Therapy Works
As light enters the eyes, millions of lightand color sensitive cells called photoreceptors convert the light intoelectrical impulses. These impulses travel along the optic nerve to the brain where they tripper the hypothalamus gland to send chemical messengers called neuro transmitters to regulate the automatic functionsof body. The hypothalamus is part of the endocrine system whoses ecretions govern most bodily functions - blood pressure, body temperature, breathing, digestion, sexual function, moods, immune system, aging process, and circadian rhythm. Full spectrum lighting (containing all wavelengths) sparks the delicate impulses that regulate these functions and maintain health.
The Importance of Natural Sunlight
According to numerous studies, poor light poses a serious threat to health. Many firmly believe that the best light for maintaining health must contain the full wavelength spectrum found in natural sunlight. Most artificial (incandescent andstandard fluorescent) lighting lacks the complete balanced spectrum of sunlight. The lack of the full spectrum interferes with the body’s optimal absorption of nutrients, a condition known as"malillumination". Windows, windshields, eyeglasses, smog, and suntanlotions all filter out parts of the light spectrum and contribute to the problem.
Most offices, even those with uncovered windows and the lights on, havea light level of only 500 lux (the international unit illumination) as compared to outdoor light, which has about 50,000 lux, or about 100times more. Light levels for night shift workers are usually about 50lux. We spend about 90% of our lives indoors, under inadequate lightingconditions, which can cause or worsen a range of health problems,including depression, heart disease, hypertension, depression, insomnia,premenstrual syndrome, migraines, and carbohydrate cravings, associated with metabolic imbalances.
A ten-year epidemiological study conducted at johns Hopkins UniversityMedical School in Baltimore, Maryland, showed that exposure to fullspectrum light (including the ultraviolet frequency) is positively) related to the prevention of breast, colon, and rectal cancers.
In Russia, a full spectrum lighting system was installed in factories where colds and sore throats had become commonplace among workers. Thislowered the bacterial contamination of the air by 40 to 70 percent.Workers who did not receive the full spectrum light were absent twice asmany days as those who did. Recent tests in classrooms, two using standard fluorescent lighting and two using full spectrum lights,indicated conclusively that students exposed to the full spectrum lighting had a marked diminishment of hyperactivity, less absenteeism,and higher academic achievement.
SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)
Full spectrum light and bright lightare effective treatments for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The symptoms of SAD are depression, excess sleeping and eating, withdrawn feeling, lowered sex drive, etc. Melatonin levels are found to be very high in-patients with SAD. Daily exposure to sunlight or full spectrumlight has been known to eliminate SAD symptoms.
UV or Not to UV
That is the question: The term "ultraviolet" causesmost people to think of harmful rays, cancer, cataracts, aging, and wrinkles. From sunglasses to suntan lotion, most of the UV is blockedor filtered out. Blocking all of the UV rays may severely weaken thebody’s defenses. There are strong indications that UV light through theeyes stimulates the immune system. Moderation is the key. There is noquestion that large amounts of UV are harmful, however, in traceamounts, it is very beneficial. Sunlight contains large amounts of UVin various wavelengths. Each wavelength is responsible for variousthings, such as tanning response in humans, activate synthesis ofVitamin D, and absorption of calcium and other minerals.
Sun therapy was very popular in Europe at the turn of the century, and until thelate 1930’s. It was known as heliotherapy, named after the Greek God ofthe sun - Helios. By mid 1930’s, sunbathing and UV therapy was most effective treatments for many infectious diseases such as: lupus,eczema, acne, herpes, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, cystics, anemia,colitis, kidney problems, etc. Then in 1938, penicillin was discovered,and world turned to pharmaceuticals, and drugs became big business. Suntherapy was then regarded as medical quackery.
There is another side to the healing with light - and most do not knowthe tremendous health benefits from UV. UV light activates the synthesis of Vitamin D, which is a prerequisite for absorption ofcalcium and other minerals. UV light can lower blood pressure; can increase efficiency of the heart, can improve EKG readings and blood profiles; can reduce cholesterol; can increase the level of sex hormones (Vita-Lite has a balanced UV, and is used extensively for enhancing the mating and reproduction of indoor pet and animals); UV activates animportant skin hormone - solitrol (works with Melatonin to generate changes in mood, circadian rhythms, and seasonal reproduction).
There are hundreds of medical studies completed on the health benefits of ultraviolet light, however, prevailing medical establishments continue to maintain that UV is dangerous to our health. It is agreed that toomuch UV is harmful, however, a basic amount is needed to support life and the immune system, just like any other vital nutrient. Today wespend most of our time indoors, and under artificial lighting. Most indoors lighting (homes, offices, and factories) has inadequate brightness and lacks the spectral components of sunlight. Additionally, most light bulbs give off a gross distortion of the visible light spectrum, emitting strong peaks of light energy in the yellow, red and infrared portions of the spectrum. That is why most lighting in homesand offices, etc. looks yellowish and dingy.
Vita-Lite fluorescent light bulbs are the world's only patented,general-purpose fluorescent tube that simulates the full color and ultraviolet spectrum of sunlight. Vita-Lite reveals detail and coloraccurately. It is a beautiful all-purpose white light - a pleasing fluorescent tube that operates in existing fixtures for complete lighting of offices, stores, factories, schools, hospitals, banks, or wherever fluorescent light is used.
Vita-Lite fluorescent lights have the proven capability to:
Simulation of natural light means that environments lit with Vita-Lite fluorescent light bulbs can blend perfectly with the natural light from windows and skylights. The eye does not have to adapt to a new spectrum, color temperature or color rendition when one goes from outdoors or a naturally lighted environment to an indoor environment lighted with Vita-Lite. Interior colors are true and details are rendered accurately.
Natural light energizes the environment for people. They generally feelbetter, are more alert, see better and perform better. In a survey conducted to determine the impact of Vita-Lite in the workplace it was found that: People felt more relaxed and less fatigued with Vita-Litethan Cool White, with higher eye comfort; The subjects perceived Vita-Lite as significantly more pleasant, natural, bright andstimulating; Additionally, they rated their seeing tasks as more distinct under Vita-Lite, and their work tasks as easier and more satisfying.
Five Rare Earth Phosphors Make The Difference!
Most fluorescent lampson the market today use only three ordinary phosphors. Some, like natural-daylight-simulating Vita-Lite, use four. Only VITA-LITE PLUSuses five - all of them high quality, rare earth phosphors. In addition to the usual light primaries of red, blue and green, VITA-LITE PLUSfeatures a UV phosphor that enables the lamp to emit beneficial,daylight-balanced ultraviolet, and a special, patented blue-green phosphor, which contributes to a broader, fuller spectrum, higher light output (2750 to 2900 lumens) and a high CRI (91) obtainable in a naturaldaylight-simulating (5500K) fluorescent tube! (Noon daylight is 5500K, and 100 CRI)
Not all "Full Spectrum" light bulbs are true Full Spectrum - noondaylight bulbs. Light bulbs are rated by 1) Lumen Output; CRI (ColorRendering Index); and Color Temperature (Kelvin Degrees). These rating sare required to determine the type of light the bulb is emitting.Natural light has a unique spectrum, which includes a balance of UV and visible color regions. This spectrum balance of UV and Visible light is necessary for lamps to be called "Full Spectrum". Therefore, if the spectrum from light bulbs closely matches this balanced spectrum of natural noon day light, such bulbs can accurately and legitimately bedescribed as Full Spectrum. Otherwise, the output of bulbs that doesnot meet this definition cannot and should not be described as Full Spectrum.
Most so-called "Full Spectrum" incandescent bulbs and neodymium) are nottrue "Full Spectrum" and do not match the high quality full spectrum -noon day sun light simulating of Vita-Lite (5500 K, 91 CRI). Spectral output analysis, clearing shows that these types of bulbs do not meetFull Spectrum requirements. These type bulbs have a rare earth element (neodymium) in the glass, which reduces the amount of yellow energy froman incandescent filament, thus producing a unique color-rendering lamp.I have contacted several of the so-called "Full Spectrum" incandescent manufacturers regarding their ratings for Color Temperature, CRI,Lumens, etc. and have yet to receive a reply. Most incandescent andother "Full Spectrum" bulbs have various color tones (pink, purple,etc.), where as Vita-Lite simulates noon day sun light.
All Vita-Lite products are rated with a Color Temp (5500 K), (91 CRI),and Lumen Output varies, depending on bulb. There is no guessing to the Lumen Level, CRI, and Color Temperature (K). Furthermore, the spectral analysis closely matches noonday sunlight and has a balanced UV, which incandescent bulbs do not have.
Another important factor is Lumen Maintenance, many fluorescent bulbslose up to 40% of their lumen output; Vita-Lite is guaranteed not tolose 25% over the warranty period. Vita-Lite bulbs are high quality,commercial grade, and have a free replacement warranty (one to threeyears). Rated life of the all Vita-Lite bulbs is based on actual userhours, and not "average hours". Average user hours mean 50% fail before rate life and 50% fail after rated life. Vita-Lite is available is several sizes, and compact fluorescent bulbs. "Living in the Light" withVita-Lite. Why buy expensive light boxes, just change existing bulbsto full spectrum sunlight simulating Vita-Lite, or install inexpensive fluorescent fixtures.
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