This Simple Sunlight Hack Could Be the Key to Waking Up Energized
In a crossover randomized controlled trial published in Building and Environment, researchers studied how different natural light exposure patterns affect sleepiness, alertness, and fatigue after waking. To do so, they followed 19 participants as they were exposed to three different waking conditions: natural light for 20 minutes before waking, gradual natural light from dawn until waking, and no natural light before waking.
"To improve awakening quality, it is important not only to avoid nighttime light pollution but also to consider the impact of natural light on awakening quality and to expose oneself to morning daylight at the appropriate time," the study authors said.The study found that although both the 20-minute pre-wake exposure and the gradual dawn exposure provided a similar amount of light, the group exposed to light shortly before waking showed greater improvements in alertness and reductions in sleepiness.
"This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of controlling natural light using window equipment to improve awakening quality and to verify appropriate methods for introducing it into bedrooms," the study authors said.
The researchers want individuals looking to better their sleep to know that although natural light before waking can positively impact the awakening quality, "excessive or premature exposure to natural light prior to waking tends to increase the frequency and duration of awakenings during sleep, potentially negatively impacting awakening quality."
The study shows that timed natural light exposure before waking can be an effective strategy for better overall sleep, however, more research is needed. If you want to test the theory for yourself but don't have the funds for automatic blinds, sunlight clocks that slowly wake you up with artificial sunlight might be an option.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNBC
an hour ago
- CNBC
FDA approves first-ever glucose monitoring system for weight loss from Signos
The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved the first-ever glucose monitoring system specifically for weight loss from the startup Signos, establishing a new option for Americans to manage their weight. Current treatment options for losing weight – popular drugs like GLP-1s and surgical interventions – are typically limited to patients with obesity or a certain BMI. Obesity drugs such as Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Zepbound can also be difficult to access due to their high costs, limited U.S. insurance coverage and constrained supply. But now, any patient can purchase a Signos membership to access its system. It uses an AI platform and an off-the-shelf continuous glucose monitor, or CGM, from Dexcom to offer personalized, real-time data and lifestyle recommendations for weight management. "There is now a solution that everybody can use to help on the weight loss journey, and you don't have to be a certain number of pounds to use it. It's available for the average American who needs it," said Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer, Signos' co-founder and CEO, in an interview on Tuesday ahead of the approval. "The average person might have five pounds to lose, or others might have 100 pounds to lose. We are here to help them at any point in that journey." The obesity epidemic costs the U.S. health-care system more than $170 billion a year, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Almost 74% of Americans are overweight or obese, government data says. Signos hopes it can make a "real big dent in that curve for the betterment of many of us," Fouladgar-Mercer said. Customers who sign up for Signos can choose a three-month or six-month plan, which currently costs $139 and $129, respectively. The company will ship out all of the CGMs a patient needs for the number of months in the plan they choose. Insurers currently don't cover the system for weight management, but the plans are a fraction of the roughly $1,000 monthly price of GLP-1s in the U.S. Signos is working with health insurance companies and employers to get coverage for the system, the company said in a statement to CNBC. Signos said it expects "this to evolve quickly as interest for tackling weight continued to expand." The Signos system can be used in combination with GLP-1s or bariatric surgery, said Fouladgar-Mercer. He said patients can also use the system after getting off a GLP-1 to maintain their weight loss. CGMs are small sensors worn on the upper arm that track glucose levels, mainly for people with diabetes. That data is wirelessly sent to Signos' app, which also allows patients to log their food intake and exercise levels, among other information that the AI platform uses to make recommendations. Apart from helping people lose pounds, the system aims to help users understand how their bodies respond to specific foods and exercise patterns and make the right behavioral changes to manage and maintain their weight in the long term. Signos did not share how many patients are currently using its glucose monitoring system, but Fouladgar-Mercer said tens of thousands of people have already tried it over time. He said Signos has scaled up its CGM inventory and software capacity to "handle a pretty massive scale" following the approval.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cardiologists Are Begging You To Eat More of This High-Fiber Food if You're Over 50
Cardiologists Are Begging You To Eat More of This High-Fiber Food if You're Over 50 originally appeared on Parade. As we age, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease increases. The chambers of your heart may get bigger, and valves that control blood flow between the chambers of the heart can become thicker and stiffer, making it harder for your heart to function as well as usual. Those factors and more are why about 9% of adults in their 50s have heart disease. While getting older is a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease, there are some risk factors within your control, like tweaking your diet to support heart health. There's no one magic food that will support heart health as you age, but cardiologists say that focusing on a range of macronutrients, including fiber, can most Americans fall short of getting the recommended 25 to 30 grams of fiber, which isn't doing their heart health any favors. If you're over 50, cardiologists say there's one high-fiber food in particular that can make it simple to hit your daily goals of the macronutrient. Even better: It's versatile and easy to use. Here's what they want you to keep in mind about increasing your fiber intake for heart health, plus the food that can help. 🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊 The High-Fiber Food Cardiologists Want People Over 50 To Eat More Of If you want to increase your fiber intake for heart health, cardiologists recommend incorporating chia seeds into your diet. 'Chia seeds are an easy and effective way to boost your daily fiber intake,' says , director of the Hypertension Center at Northwell's Staten Island University Hospital., interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA, agrees. 'Chia seeds are a good source of both soluble and insoluble fiber,' he says. Soluble fiber interacts with water to create a gel-like substance in the gut and can help lower the risk of heart disease, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to stool and helps food pass more quickly through the gastrointestinal tract. 'Just two tablespoons pack about 10 grams of fiber, which is nearly half of the recommended daily amount for older adults,' Dr. Behuria says. Related: Why Chia Seeds Can Support Heart Health There are a few reasons why chia seeds can support heart health. The fiber in chia seeds can support heart health by lowering levels of LDL 'bad' cholesterol, Dr. Chen says. High levels of LDL cholesterol are linked with the buildup of plaque in the arteries—and that increases the risk of having a heart attack and stroke. Chia seeds may also improve blood sugar control, lowering the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a condition that's also linked to double the chances of getting heart disease. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases over age 45, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 'Chia seeds can aid in feeling full longer, which may help with weight management,' Dr. Behuria says. Being overweight and obesity are risk factors for heart disease, and maintaining a healthy weight can help combat that. Chia seeds are also easy to toss in a range of foods, from smoothies to oatmeal, making it simple to hit your fiber goals. You can even create 'chia seed water' by soaking chia seeds in water and drinking the mixture. Related: Keep This In Mind When Eating Chia Seeds for Heart Health Chia seeds can be added to a slew of different foods, but cardiologists stress the importance of making sure they're used with a lot of water. 'It is essential that you take in chia seeds with plenty of water, as this will help the high fiber move through the digestive tract,' Dr. Chen says. Dr. Behuria agrees. 'Their high fiber content and ability to absorb liquid can cause discomfort if you're not drinking enough water,' she explains. Related: Other Ways To Protect Your Heart Health as You Age To continue to protect your heart health as you get older, Dr. Behuria recommends following the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 recommendations. Those include: Eat a diet focused on whole foods, including fruits and vegetables, lean protein, nuts, and seeds. Try to get 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity exercise, or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity a week. Avoid tobacco, including cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Aim to get seven to nine hours of sleep a night. Do your best to maintain a BMI of 25. Control your cholesterol by limiting sugary foods and drinks, red and processed meats, salty foods, refined carbohydrates, and highly processed foods. Try to manage your blood sugar. Stay on top of your blood pressure. Up Next:Sources: Heart Health and Aging, National Institute on Aging Heart Disease Prevalence, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention McKeown NM, et al. Fibre intake for optimal health: how can healthcare professionals support people to reach dietary recommendations? BMJ. 2022. DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2020-054370. Dr. Supreeti Behuria, MD, director of the Hypertension Center at Northwell's Staten Island University Hospital Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA Soluble vs. Insoluble Fiber, U.S. National Library of Medicine LDL Cholesterol, U.S. National Library of Medicine Diabetes Risk Factors, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Diabetes and Your Heart, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Powell-Wiley TM, et al. Obesity and cardiovascular disease: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2021. DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000973 Life's Essential 8, American Heart Association Cardiologists Are Begging You To Eat More of This High-Fiber Food if You're Over 50 first appeared on Parade on Aug 18, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Iowa attorney general signs letter calling on DEA to ban ‘designer Xanax'
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird. (Photo by Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is calling on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in a joint letter to take emergency action to schedule a drug that has been linked to deaths in the state and across the country. Bromazolam is described in the letter penned by Sunday and 20 other state attorneys general as a 'designer Xanax.' The prosecutors say the drug is increasingly contributing to overdose deaths and posing a growing threat to public health. It is also highly potent and unpredictable, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday's office wrote, especially when mixed with opioids. Narcan, which is used to reverse an overdose, is ineffective against the drug in such emergencies. Bromazolam is unscheduled under the federal Controlled Substances Act. 'Despite its clear dangers, bromazolam remains unscheduled at the federal level, creating significant challenges for law enforcement and public health officials trying to respond to this emerging crisis,' the attorneys generals wrote. 'Without scheduling, this drug continues to evade traditional regulatory and prosecutorial tools, hindering interdiction efforts and enabling continued distribution through illicit channels.' 'Taking emergency action to schedule bromazolam will help law enforcement remove it from circulation, give prosecutors the tools to hold traffickers accountable, and send a clear signal that this dangerous substance has no place on our streets,' the attorneys general wrote. 'Bromazolam, or 'Designer Xanax' is a lethal, counterfeit drug with no medical use that is highly addictive and killing Americans,' Bird said in a statement. 'It is already an illegal drug in Iowa, and I strongly urge the DEA to take swift and definite action at the federal level to give law enforcement the tools they need to stop this crisis, save lives, and hold traffickers accountable.' This story was originally published by Pennsylvania Capital-Star, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Pennsylvania Capital-Star maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Tim Lambert for questions: info@ Solve the daily Crossword
