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The number of people suffering from depression has doubled in the last fifty years, leaving scientists alarmed and wondering why. The irony is that our lives have improved dramatically. We’re eating better, we work fewer hours, enjoy better health, take longer vacations and have far more discretionary income than we did in the fifties. In fact, the NIH estimates that 1 in 5 of us will suffer from depression at some time in our lives.

With all the improvements in our lives, why the increase in depression? One answer could be the way these improvements have changed our lifestyles. With luxuries that satisfy our every need, we have become sedentary and spend most of our day indoors. A recent national survey shows that we now spend less than an hour/day in the sun. And that doesn’t matter if it’s summer or winter, or if we live in Minnesota or Southern California. Young and old alike, we spend very little time outdoors.

Lack of sunlight may lead to depression

The medical journal The Lancet reports that the lack of bright light like sunlight may be a cause of depression. Bright light produces serotonin in our brains, and scientists believe that low levels of serotonin contribute to depression. As light produces serotonin, our natural balance returns, and we’re productive again. Clinical studies at Yale, UCSD and others, have shown dramatic results with light.

Light does what anti-depressants can’t

The discovery that light produces serotonin is so significant, because it’s natural, lacks major side effects, and is so effective at increasing serotonin levels in the brain. Pharmaceutical companies have never been able to replicate this process. Anti-depressant medications are designed to keep serotonin in the system, but they can not produce it. This is why light is so critical.

Depression Statistics:

The rate of depression has almost doubled over the last 50 years
Nearly 15% of the US population now suffers from Depression
Represents 18 million Americans
20 million more suffer from anxiety
Women are twice as likely as men to become depressed
The rate of depression doubles in the elderly
Most people with depression have sleep problems

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