Lack of sunlight and its effect on our mood

Today marks the first day of spring and, according to the Weather Network, Toronto can look forward to one hour of sunlight and expect a fall of scattered flurries all day.

This year's uncharacteristically cold and long Narnian winter has most of North America hankering for springtime sunshine and warmer temperatures soon. Even after pushing our clocks forward an hour last weekend, it's tough to see the sunlight at the end of the tunnel. Although it provides good backup conversation fodder for by-the-watercooler small talk, this day-to-day weather is taking its toll on the physiological and mental health for many people.

Lack of sun exposure can cause depression

Make no mistake. If you've been feeling down for days or weeks at a time and lacking motivation, it's more than just the "winter blues." Seasonal affective disorder Symptoms of SAD include a loss in energy, "heavy" feeling in your arms or legs, oversleeping, hopelessness, anxiety, appetite changes, and depression.

Not only do the shorter winter days and longer nights give you less of a time window to catch some rays, the cold weather discourages most of us from going outdoors during the winter months. Unless you're a kid who can't feel the cold, chances are the only time you spend directly under the sun is during those 15 minutes you need to shovel your driveway or sidewalk.

But why is it so important to get sun exposure?

While staying in the quiet dark has a unique calming quality to it, being directly under the sun (not behind a window or through a glass) provides many health benefits. From lowering blood pressure to playing a direct role in levels of serotonin, the "happy hormone," the sun provides us with much more than light.

For those who are unable to get enough sunlight a day, whether it's due to work schedules or skin reactions to the sun, it's worth looking into light therapy. Keep a light box or a light therapy lamp near your desk or workstation indoors to keep your spirits high. These light boxes are designed to imitate natural daylight and it has been proven to help mood disorders and treat SAD.

Besides our mental health, the sun is our biggest source of Vitamin D. It is vital for absorbing calcium to build and maintain bones. Vitamin D is also important for regulating the immune system and cells, where where there is evidence it may help prevent cancer. Although deficiency is not necessarily a cause of disease, people with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to have breast and colon cancer, prostate cancer, high blood pressure, depression, and obesity.

It seems strange that a 4.6-billion-year-old massive ball of hydrogen, helium, and other gasses has such an effect on our humble home so many light years away. What do you think? Have you been feeling the effects of lack of sunlight? Let us know in the comments below!