Our bodies have a special internal clock that helps us know when to sleep and when to wake up, but for those who must travel in different time zones, a new study shows that light color could be one of possible jet lag remedies. Light color affects jet lag sufferers in determining how our bodies will react to time changes when we travel. The study at the University of Manchester, which was led by Dr. Timothy Brown from the Faculty of Life Sciences showed that our internal body clock uses changes in color of light to regulate itself and form our sleeping and waking patterns. Scientists doing the research found that there are significant differences in light color during the day and night, especially at sunrise and twilight. For instance, at twilight the light is a much bluer color than in the daytime.
Nerve Cells Conscious of Light Colors
The scientists studied the way light color affects jet lag and other body rhythm issues by analyzing how mice reacted to certain kinds of light color adjustments in a range of blue to yellow light. It was found that nerve cells in the body were more conscious of color changes from blue to yellow shades and how it differed in brightness adjustments. This can be applied to jet lag remedies as well.
The study determined that there are ways to use the fact that light color remedies jet lag to help those who travel to deal with this common problem. For instance, one way to deal with a jet lag problem is to put yourself inside of a light box that produces varying intensities and shades of color.
Light Color Jet Lag Remedies For Better Sleep Patterns
The scientists showed that their study results were very promising for doing things like treating jet lag sufferers and other sleep disorders, as well as for people who work night shift or varied shifts requiring them to have odd sleep patterns. The main point was that if the color surrounding the affected person changes, their brain uses this information to decide what time of the day it is and if the body should be awake or asleep.
In fact, the light color affects jet lag more so than the changes in brightness of the light, according to the study results, and the most changes were seen in the reactions of the brain to changes from blue colors to yellow color shades. The study showed that, for instance, the mice used in the experiment had their body heat go up in the evenings, as well as when they were exposed to a dark color of blue. This is because nocturnal animals are more awake then, and naturally have a higher body temperature.
This is a vital study because it creates proven jet lag remedies by proving that light color affects jet lag and other sleep/wake patterns in animals, and probably in humans, and could especially be helpful for those people who travel and often suffer from jet lag, as well as help with other sleep problems.
For more on jet lag remedies, you’ll want to watch this one:
https://youtu.be/i1bpE28W3i4
