Time change, consequences and adverse effects on our health

We have been delaying and moving our watches for almost half an hour now during seasonal changes. This usual act eventually became completely mores and thus became a kind of custom; especially for generations who have experienced only this biannual time change. Therefore, they never perceived the world at the natural rhythm of its authentic hour on a full annual cycle.

However, these untimely time lags are not without consequences for our health.

Origin of time change:

In 1940, during the Nazi occupation, the annexed area complied with German time so that the entire territory of the Reich respected a certain uniformity. This practice was abandoned in the enthusiasm of the Liberation, but unfortunately returned to the forefront a few years later, in the context of the oil shock of 1973.

Daylight saving time was in fact put back in place on March 28, 1976, with the aim of reducing the need for lighting at the end of the day, so that the population would consume as little electricity as possible. This system consists of adjusting the official local time, adding one hour to that of the so-called “normal” time zone, for a period generally from early spring to mid-autumn, delaying the time the Sun rises and sets.France then artificially gains an hour of sleep to ultimately lose an hour of natural light in the evening.

The idea of shifting the time between summer and winter to avoid consuming too much electricity is not new, but seems much less astute than before. Indeed, nowadays, Europeans live later in the evening and actually consume more energy. In reality, they no longer save money.

What are the effects of the time change on the body and how can it reduce it?

The biological clock works over 24 hours and is based on the natural circadian cycle of man. This internal clock notably rhythms the secretion of melatonin called the “sleep hormone”, and the activity of the immune system.

Nevertheless, this jet lag disturbs the body, causing a problem of desynchronization of our circadian clock. Rather than improving the quality of sleep, it creates a debt, specific to this time change. Deregulating the functioning of the biological clock, this artificial change in time can thus cause a fragility of the immune system, disturbance of appetite, as well as sleep disturbances.

Each year, there is an increase in road accidents, heart attacks and depressive states at the time of the switchover to daylight saving time.

• Sleep disorders:

Sleep is a natural phenomenon that results in a loss of consciousness and the outside world. The French sleep an average of 7 hours on weekdays and 8 hours on weekends. During a night’s sleep, there are 3 to 5 cycles of about 90 minutes.

Circadian rhythm disorders are a dysfunction between sleep and sleep rhythms. These disturbances will be proportional to the frequency with which schedules change. Sleep is of lower quality, which can lead to irritability, depression and gastrointestinal disorders.

In order to limit these disorders, there are natural solutions:

1. Tryptophan: This amino acid is the basis of serotonin secretion, it is also a natural antidepressant
2. Vitamin B3 (niacin) reduces insomnia and prevents depression (sources: fish, yeast, tomatoes, mushrooms, vegetables)
3. Vitamin A (retinol) prevents insomnia (sources: fish oils, vegetables, butter, egg yolk, fish, orange and yellow vegetables)
4. Immediate chronobiane is made from liquid melatonin and Hawthorn. This natural product is ideal for nocturnal awakenings, time shifts and one-off sleep problems.
5. Santarome sleep is a 100% natural drinkable food supplement made from plants, buds and melatonin

• Immune system:

Immunity is an organism’s ability to defend itself against aggression from the outside environment (bacteria, virus, fungus, antigen). However, there are several forms of immune defence. Throughout our lives and depending on the aggressions suffered, develops a specific immunity which can however be altered during the time change due to the disruption of the internal clock.

In order to limit a decline in the immune system’s diet, there are natural solutions:

1. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) promotes immune defences (sources: yeast, cereals, germs, organic eggs, fish, spinach, asparagus, broccoli)
2. Vitamin B9 (folic acid) plays a key role in immune defences
3. Iron: This micronutrient contributes to the proper functioning of the immune system
4. Santarome immune defenses is a natural and BIO drinkable dietary supplement derived from gemotherapy. The synergy of buds present in this complex helps to stimulate the body’s natural defenses and thus reduce fatigue

• Disturbance of appetite:

Disruption of the internal clock can cause a decrease in appetite. However, this transient inappterence can lead to other more important conditions such as anemia, anorexia, amenorrhea or vitamin deficiencies if it lasts more than a few days.

To prevent this loss of appetite, there are natural solutions:

1. Vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency can cause loss of appetite (sources: whole grains, wholegrain rice, dietary yeast, cereal sprouts, organic eggs, pollen, legumes)
2. Vitamin B9 (folic acid) deficiency can cause weight loss and lack of appetite
3. Vitamin A (retinol) prevents weight loss (sources: fish oils, vegetables, butter, egg yolk, fish, orange and yellow vegetables)
4. Sodium promotes appetite