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Bringing Sunlight Indoors for Better Health

The AHA! Team — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 08:24:34 +0000

Brian Blum via Israel21c – Solight collects natural light and directs it through a series of tubes to illuminate the indoors through holes in the tube or light fixtures. “Human beings are out of sync,” says Ofer Becker, CTO of Haifa-based startup Solight. Indeed, because most of us in the Western world spend so much time indoors, we’ve lost our connection to natural sunlight. And that can lead to health problems, from a lack of healing Vitamin D to a lack of sleep-facilitating melatonin. The body’s circadian rhythm – the biological clock that regulates the sleep/wake cycle and much more – is also highly affected by sunlight exposure. Spending more time outdoors is the simple answer, but that’s not so easy when you work 9-5 in an office. That’s the issue Becker and his Solight cofounder, his brother and company CEO Dror Becker, set out to solve with Solight. The company’s technology collects natural sunlight from outdoors and directs it through a series of tubes indoors, where it can illuminate a room through holes in the tube or light fixtures attached to those openings. There are financial savings, of course – if you can light a home or office with natural sunlight, you use less electricity – but the real benefit, Becker tells ISRAEL21c, has to do with health. Stronger than a drug In one Korean research study Becker cited, natural sunlight increased the recovery time of hospital patients by an average of 30 percent. Hospitalizations were 8% shorter after orthopedic surgery, 18% less after pediatric surgery, and nearly 10% less after urological, ophthalmologic or dental surgery. Sleep is critical to healing and sunlight plays perhaps the deciding factor. “Natural sunlight is stronger than any kind of drug to cure insomnia,” Becker explains, citing data from the Good Light Group. Just 20 minutes outside in strong sunlight near the end of the day can make a huge difference. Proper lighting can also improve mood, increase concentration and, in general, synchronize one’s internal biological clock with the outside environment. Becker points to research showing that worker productivity increases up to 18% when buildings have more natural lighting. Retail sales have been shown to jump by 25% when lighting is improved. A Cornell study found that letting natural light into hospital nurses’ workstations had a measurably positive effect on alertness and mood. A 1999 study by the Heschong Mahone Group reported that “daylighting” elementary schools resulted in a 20% faster progression by students in math and 25% faster progression in reading. A periscope approach To bring natural sunlight indoors, Solight has adopted a relatively low-tech approach. Other than the solar collector, the SOLIS system has no moving parts or electronics and requires little or no maintenance. Solight’s first focus is on commercial installations — offices, factories, school and hospitals up to five stories tall. Because Solight’s process requires hands-on, third-party installation for each customer, “high-rise buildings require too many modifications,” Becker explains. While Solight has integrated its technology into some new buildings, retrofitting existing infrastructure makes up the lion’s share of the market. Upfront design and consultation can be done in less than a day, Becker adds. Solight’s components can be mixed and matched like LEGO bricks, so installation can be as quick as three hours. Solight first puts a collector on a rooftop or southern façade. The collector is then attached to a “light guide” – a reflective tube in which light travels in real time. “It’s similar to the periscope in a submarine,” Becker explains. “Light comes in the top, travels through an optical system, and leaves via the bottom. We do not store or transform the light.” Paying customers Launched in 2012, Solight devoted the first six years to perfecting its technology. Now it’s actively supplying natural sunlight solutions to clients in Israel, plus a couple of projects under development in India. Paying customers include Israel Railways, which has installed Solight’s technology in its Beersheva depot; the four-year-old Kedma hotel in Sde Boker in Israel’s Negev desert; the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and the Bazan refinery, both in Haifa; a preschool in Ramat Gan; the Arava Agri-Research Institute in Ein Yahav; the Eilat municipality’s education network; and Kfar Saba’s recycling and sustainability center. Soon, the system will be installed in 10 buildings in Tel Aviv that are being refurbished. All told, Solight has 23 systems installed in Israel, although the company is not at a mass production level yet. It currently costs around $10,000 for a Solight system to be installed for a commercial building. Becker is working to slash that figure in half. Sunshine on a cloudy day There are other companies working on channeling natural sunlight indoors – Becker cites Velux and SolaTube, both of which are “doing fantastic work. However, our system is more efficient by a factor of three for direct sunlight and a factor of four to five when there are clouds.” While other systems can cease operating when conditions are cloudy or hazy, he adds, “We remain proportional. If we have half the sunlight on a cloudy day, you still get half the sunlight inside.” On days when some artificial light is necessary, Solight suggests that customers make up the difference using dimmer switches or a smart-home system (such as those from Apple and Amazon) to add the proper amount of indoor lighting. Despite Solight’s ability to shuttle light from outside to inside, little heat is generated. At the Kedma, Becker explains, the indoor temperature rose two to three degrees, which can be easily compensated for by air conditioning. How much natural sunlight does one need? Direct sunlight has the power of 100,000 lux, Becker points out. That’s way too much for indoors, where only 500 lux is recommended by The Good Light Group. Solight uses indirect reflection towards, say, a ceiling to bring down the intensity. Dispersing the light over a wider area will also reduce its strength. Doing business during a war Solight has raised money from the Israel Innovation Authority, the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program and private investors. The Israeli ministries of the environment and energy have chipped in support, as well. Since October 7, however, the sun has not shone as brightly for Solight, which is based in the Haifa district on Tirat Hacarmel. Overseas investment in Israeli startups has plummeted since the war against Hamas in Gaza began. The money the company raised in 2021 has run out. “We had to let some people go, even though all of our recent projects have been profitable with a nice margin,” says Becker. Only the Becker brothers remain on payroll – and not even that, as Ofer has spent 120 days over the past seven months in the IDF reserves and has been called up for another two months. But meanwhile, recognition of the importance of natural sunlight is growing. The European Union has issued guidelines for how much outside lighting new buildings must support. Becker says that could reach up to 30% of all buildings in Europe by 2030. “The 20 or so installations we’ve done are just a drop in the bucket of potential,” Becker says. Even Apple has added light measuring abilities to its latest Watch. While the future may be bright, for now at least, Becker says, “We just have to survive long enough.” For more information, click here. To read the original article click here.

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9 Supplements for Optimal Blood Pressure Management

AHA Publisher — Sun, 16 Aug 2020 07:00:32 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – Half of all Americans over 60 suffer from high blood pressure (hypertension), a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke and kidney failure. In fact, research shows that even small increases in blood pressure increase the danger, with every 20/10 mmHg rise over optimal levels (115/75 mmHg) causing heart disease risk to double! And, while conventionally-trained physicians tend to prescribe drugs to reduce blood pressure, these medications can produce toxic side effects. Fortunately, a variety of vitamins and nutrients can significantly reduce blood pressure. To discover the top 9 natural supplements for blood pressure control, keep reading. Vitamin D: The “Sunshine Vitamin” Shines in its Ability to Help You to Stay Healthy Vitamin D supplementation has been shown in studies to reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension. Experts say that this important fat-soluble nutrient helps to suppress a blood pressure hormone known as renin. Unsurprisingly, vitamin D deficiency (blood levels under 20 ng/mL of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3) raises the risk of high blood pressure. To avoid deficiency, natural health experts recommend getting at least 20 minutes of direct sunlight two or three times a week. You can also boost dietary levels with cold water (wild caught) salmon, organic mushrooms or pasture-raised eggs. However, to achieve “optimal levels,” your integrative healthcare provider may recommend supplementation. Although individual needs can vary depending on gender, body mass, age, state of health and climate, some natural health experts maintain that most people need about 5,000 – 8,000 IU per day, to correct deficiencies in vitamin D. The “Mighty Mineral” Magnesium: A Great Way to Improve Your Cardiovascular Health Magnesium, an essential mineral, is vital for regulating heart rhythm and blood pressure – and is particularly beneficial for people with cardiovascular disease. In one study involving patients with advanced heart disease, magnesium supplementation caused a 9 mmHg drop in systolic blood pressure. The systolic, or top measurement, records the pressure during heartbeats, while the diastolic reveals blood pressure between beats. For people who are low in magnesium in the first place, supplementation can have even more dramatic effects on blood pressure. In one study of low-magnesium patients, supplementation with 450 mg of elemental magnesium a day dropped systolic levels a whopping 20.4 mmHg. Can Fish Oil Help to Relax the Arteries? Extensive studies have shown that fish oil – which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA – promotes the relaxation of arteries while reducing arterial inflammation. The result? This natural supplement can cause modest (but still meaningful) reductions in blood pressure. To lower blood pressure, natural healers typically advise between 1,000 and 2,000 mg of fish oil a day. Just be sure to use a quality source of fish oil to avoid toxicity concerns. CoQ10 Is Widely Known as a “Winner” When it Comes to Maintaining a Healthy Cardiovascular System A vitamin-like nutrient that is essential for heart health, coenzyme Q10 is a potent antioxidant that can promote healthy blood pressure. Extensive research has shown that doses between 30 mg and 360 mg a day of CoQ10 can drop the systolic reading by as much as 16.6 mmHg. And, not only can CoQ10 lower blood pressure, but it can help reverse resultant damage by decreasing abnormal thickening of the heart muscle. By the way, if you take a statin drug to lower cholesterol, natural health experts strongly advise supplementing with C0Q10. Typical dosages range from 200 to 300 mg a day. Beat High Blood Pressure with Beet Juice At first glance, this brilliantly colored scarlet liquid might resemble the sort of sugary, artificial, chemical-laden drink that those with high blood pressure should avoid. But there is nothing artificial about beet juice, especially as it relates to its ability to decrease blood pressure. Beets are rich in inorganic nitrate, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds called betalains. Both may help you get high blood pressure under control. In an important 2015 study, researchers found that a cup of beet juice a day for four weeks lowered blood pressure in people with hypertension, causing improvement within hours of consumption. Get Extra Helps from Anthocyanins Anthocyanins, flavonoids found in intensely colored fruits such as blueberries and blackberries, inhibit production of blood pressure-raising ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) while increasing production of beneficial nitric oxide. One study found that two servings of anthocyanin-rich berries a day caused significant drops in systolic blood pressure – along with a rise in beneficial HDL cholesterol. As a side note: if fresh berries are inconvenient or pricey, no worries. Powdered berry extracts can give you similar health benefits. Mellow Out With Melatonin: A Natural Sleep Aid Promotes Better Blood Pressure Control at Night Melatonin, the “sleep hormone,” is often taken to promote restful, natural slumber. It can also do double duty by lowering harmful blood pressure “spikes” that can occur during sleep. In a study published in the American Journal of Hypertension, the team found that nocturnal hypertension has been associated with increased risk for cardiovascular events. In fact, several studies have shown that 2 mg of melatonin, taken before bedtime, can significantly lower blood pressure during sleep. Don’t Forget the Value of Cinnamon To access this blood pressure-lowering natural nutrient, you need look no farther than your spice rack. Cinnamon is high in cinnamaldehyde, an antioxidant compound that is being researched for its ability to decrease both blood pressure and blood sugar. In a 2013 systematic review published in Nutrition, the authors referenced the “notable” blood pressure-lowering effect of cinnamon on diabetic and prediabetic patients. By the way, the amounts used in studies have ranged from a fraction of a teaspoon to two teaspoons a day. Cinnamon is generally regarded as safe when taken in amounts typically added to food, so go ahead and sprinkle this tasty spice over organic oatmeal or use it to add a little “zip” to your favorite smoothie. Discover the Healing Power of Eating Garlic Garlic contains an active constituent called allicin, which increases the body’s production of beneficial nitric oxide -in turn enhancing dilation of blood vessels. When it comes to lowering blood pressure, garlic is truly a heavy hitter. In a meta-review published in 2016 in Journal of Nutrition, the authors examined 50 years of controlled trials involving almost a thousand participants and concluded that garlic lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressure by an average of 8.7 and 6.1 mmHg respectively. As an added “bonus:” garlic can help to reduce total and LDL cholesterol. Just remember: If you would like to try managing your blood pressure with any of the above supplements, check with your integrative doctor first. Manage Blood Pressure with Simple Lifestyle Changes Of course, one can’t overlook the potential of proper nutrition and exercise to reduce blood pressure. Natural health experts suggest doing away with highly-processed foods, refined sugars and sugary drinks from your diet, and replacing unhealthy trans and hydrogenated fats with beneficial (non-toxic) fats, like avocados. Managing blood pressure is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health. These natural supplements can be powerful allies. Sources for this article include: LifeExtension.com, NIH.gov, NIH.gov, MedicalNewsToday.com To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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