The Winter Solstice Is Here. How Dark Days Affect the Human Body

image via New Scientist

December 20, 2024, 12:30 PM

• •The winter solstice is the culmination of a period every year when each cell in our body literally craves more light.
• •The dimming of our daily ration of natural light leading up to the winter solstice produces a series of conspicuous physiological changes.
• •All cells have circadian rhythms. If you don’t get enough light because it’s winter, the immune system dampens. You stop making immune cells—T cells, macrophages—that you need to fight infections at certain times of the day. Less light means a less functioning immune system and lower resistance to infection.

The winter solstice is the culmination of a period every year when each cell in our body literally craves more light. Our bodily rhythms are set by light, and when the days get shorter and darker, our bodies go into a sort of hibernation mode. This can lead to a number of problems, including depression, fatigue, and a weakened immune system.

Read original article