What is weather?

Life on Earth depends on solar radiation as an energy source and has adapted biologically to the day/night rhythm as well as to the seasons. The sun enables photosynthesis, without which there would be no life. It causes cloud formation, ocean currents, winds, precipitation and air pressure fluctuations, which we summarize under the term weather, without normally thinking about their manifold biological effects.

The type, quality and quantity of our plant food directly depends on the seasons and climates, as well as their amount of vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, phytochemicals and valuable trace elements.

In the course of evolution, the metabolisms of animals and humans is very closely linked to these vital substances of plants, or are existentially dependent on them. Without chlorophyll and related substances that convert sunlight into chemical energy, there would be no life on Earth. The broad spectrum of sunlight ranges from warming infrared radiation, to the range of rainbow colors visible to us, to the ultraviolet range.

This spectrum changes during the day due to the position of the sun and the different thickness of the atmosphere that scatters the short-wave light, which is why the sky appears blue. This cyclic color change represents a kind of biological clock for all living beings that align their activity accordingly.

The weather therefore has a great influence on our biological functions.

The weather has a great, scientific significance!

The spectrum of sunlight, which changes throughout the day and seasons, also has a direct impact on our metabolism. The most well-known substances whose production depends on sunlight are probably vitamin D, which is essential for our immune system and the release of melatonin in complete darkness, which initiates nocturnal cell regeneration. Nocturnal artificial light, especially with larger blue components, often prevents the release of melatonin for several hours, which can be harmful to health due to the shortened regeneration phases.

So if you read these lines after sunset in the mobile view on your smartphone, tablet, laptop or other displays, please turn on the blue filter to reduce the amounts of blue that affect your sleep quality.

Keep in mind that lamps with intensive blue components should be avoided before sleeping at night.

The biological influence of sunlight on our metabolic processes is, as you can see, a very interesting area of research. Our health, fitness and well-being are specifically influenced by the daily weather. Fluctuations in air pressure, cloudiness, humidity and the intensity of solar radiation cause many complaints that at first glance would not necessarily be attributed to the weather conditions.

Weather-sensitive people suffer from circulatory problems, headaches, changes in blood pressure, rheumatic diseases, respiratory diseases, and much more. Allergies caused by natural pollen are now widespread. They are associated with malfunctions of the immune system, as well as weakened detoxification functions. Experts assume that many of these complaints can be regarded as diseases of civilization.

Why? We live in a world of abundance, have a good health care and good food?

On closer inspection, however, one cannot avoid the realization that our food no longer corresponds to what our metabolism could have expected from nature a few 10,000 years ago. Even if we seem to be extremely adaptable with regard to our diet, because no one falls over immediately if you eat much too sweet, much too fatty, far too low in vitamins, far too low in enzymes and far too much, this can not be good for us in the long run from a purely metabolic point of view.

Our daily routine is no longer based on the sun, but on work, family and leisure activities, which are often accompanied by artificial light deep into the darkness. Television, computer and smartphone displays let us glide into the night with blue light from the natural rhythm on which our well-being depends.

In our industrialized environment, particulate matter, poisons, noise, stress and nocturnal light pollution also cause enormous, completely unnatural loads on our metabolism, which it tries to regulate by changing intake amounts of bioactive substances, which must then be present in sufficient quantities in the diet. Strong solar radiation can cause sunburn and contribute to the formation of ozone. Plants protect themselves from excessive solar radiation with the synthesis of antioxidants. These are exactly the same substances that help to protect our cells from oxidative damage. Also the anti-aging fans will find various herbal substances that have a positive influence on the lifespan of cells

On the other hand, sunlight is also essential for the production of vitamin D, which is why it is also called the "sun vitamin". With the help of sunlight, healthy skin produces around 15,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D per day, which the body can store for months. Clothing and being indoors, on the other hand, almost completely stop the production of vitamin D, which can lead to a vitamin D deficiency. Interestingly, dietary intake of vitamin D plays a minor role and is considered insufficient unless one eats like an iniut, which is likely to be the exception in our regions. People who spend little time outdoors in the sun should have their vitamin D levels checked to prevent deficiency symptoms.

Metabolic processes are usually nested, complex cycles that produce, convert or detoxify all the substances required by the body. For these functions, they need vitamins, minerals, trace elements, antioxidants, amino acids and many other vital and nutrients. If you have a deeper interest in background knowledge of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, antioxidants, fatty acids, secondary plant substances and other vital substances, we strongly recommend that you expand your knowledge by means of good books and other interesting sources.