Full Spectrum Lighting: What are Full Spectrum Light Bulbs?

Importance of Light
Light, specifically natural sunlight, plays a very important role in our life. Exposure to Sunlight affects the Hypothalmus, which is perhaps the most important part of the brain and which controls and oversees the nervous system and the endocrine system and most of our body functions. Sunlight activates the Pineal Gland and affects the balance of the Melatonin and Serotonin hormones produced in our body. With decreased light exposure, production of Melatonin goes up and causes fatigue; with increased light exposure, production of Serotonin increases and elevates your mood and makes you more mentally alert. Our body clocks are instinctively attuned to the sun's progress through the day. We get up in the morning, we go to bed after the light fades. Any changes in this rhythm upsets our balance, as people suffering from jet lag or those who switch work schedules abruptly from day shifts to night shifts will attest.

Moderate exposure to sunlight reduces the risks of disease and promotes overall well-being and good health. Lack of sufficient sunlight can lead to various disorders like Depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Such disorders are becoming more prevalent in the present century than they were in the previous ones, because more and more people nowadays spend a considerable portion of their time indoors inside inadequately-lit homes and office buildings.

In ancient times, people had it easier and didn't need to make a special effort to be in the sun. Most folks spent a great deal of their time out in the open air and sunshine and led healthier lives than we do in the present age. In different cultures around the world, the Sun worship was a very commonly encountered phenomenon. People had discovered the life-giving and healing qualities of sunlight, and Heliotherapy or Sunlight Therapy was recommended as treatment for many ailments, especially during the short Winter days.

It is a somewhat funny comment on the progress of our civilization and the conveniences of modern life that instead of making proper use of what is available naturally and freely just outside, we find ourselves spending our days largely indoors, expending vast amounts in trying to treat ourselves to 'Light Therapy' by duplicating that natural light source artificially. Still, that's better than missing out entirely. If you're spending more time indoors than out, then do consider availing yourself of Full Spectrum Lighting and Full Spectrum Lamps for better health benefits.

What is Full Spectrum Lighting?
Full Spectrum Lighting is optically balanced artificial lighting that duplicates the clarity and color intensity of noon time sunlight. It is a clear, bright white light that has a 90-100 CRI (Color Rendering Index) and 5000-5500 Degrees Kelvin (Kelvin Temperature). Full Spectrum Lighting, like its name suggests, includes the entire gamut of light rays from UV (ultraviolet) to VIBGYOR (Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red) to IR (infrared). Full Spectrum Earth Phospors are used to manufacture Full Spectrum Light Bulbs. Lights Bulbs not meeting these specifications should be avoided.

Why should you go for Full Spectrum Lighting?
Full Spectrum Light is less stressful to your health than other artificial light like Fluorescent lights. Since they replicate natural sunlight, Full Spectrum Lights reduce the levels of Melatonin and Cortisol hormones in your body and thereby you experience less stress. You will suffer less eye strain, headaches, and general fatigue. Full Spectrum Lighting helps improve the immune system, helps decrease blood pressure problems, and helps decrease insomnia. Full Spectrum Lamps are used as an effective form of Light Therapy to treat people who suffer from seasonal depression or what was traditionally known as 'Winter Blues' and sometimes as an alternative to taking chemical anti-depressants in the treatment of regular annual depression.

Installing Full Spectrum Light Bulbs in offices has had a proven beneficial effect on the mental and physical well-being of the office staff. It has been found to reduce work stress and irritability, and increase energy and concentration levels. This naturally leads to improved work performance and better production.

Aside from this, Full Spectrum Light Bulbs have many other positive attributes. They are very durable, and can last for over 10,000 hours or 417 days. They may be a tad expensive to purchase, but that extra expense balances out with their longer life expectancy and the fact that they also consume a lot less energy than usual light bulbs (which is good news for the levels of your electricity bill), and are environmentally friendly.