Marketplace

Frequently Asked Questions About Light

1) What is full spectrum light?

2) How was full spectrum light discovered?

3) Why is the color balance important?

4) How do I use it?

5) How long can I use the lights?

6) Why do I seem to slow down in the winter or when I don't get outside?

7) How much light do I need?

8) How much light is usually in my environment?

9) Does a compact fluorescent bulb fit a standard fixture?

10) Can I use the bulbs anywhere?

11) Why do compact fluorescent bulbs cost more?

12) Do I have to have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) to use a light box?

13) Are your products UL-approved?

14) Can I get your full spectrum lights in stores?

15) Chromalux bulbs say their light is full spectrum. Please explain.

16) Why do researchers talk about serotonin levels?

17) Definitions

18) What are T-8 and T-12 fluorescent tubes?

19) What is a Ballast?

20) What's the difference between a magnetic and an electronic ballast?

21) Why do you, Linaya Hahn, President of Light for Health, use full spectrum light?

What is full spectrum light?

To be full spectrum, the light must closely resemble the sun's natural light at noon when we are most biologically active. The light must have the all the wavelengths of visible light plus the biologically essential ultraviolet A and B to be called full spectrum, not just some of the wavelengths that create a partial spectrum or a distorted spectrum. All of the colors combine to produce a blue-white light.

Manufacturers generally agree that the light emitted should be above 90 CRI, 5500 Kelvin to be called "full spectrum". However, after manufacturing, some companies add 2 points to the CRI number because a stray bulb or tube may test that high. We don't do that. Our bulbs and tubes test 95 CRI 5550 K.

Our Light for Health Lights, called Indoor Sunshineª, come from the highest quality blend of several rare earth minerals or phosphors to produce a light that has the beneficial red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet and even trace ultraviolet A & B. Our light is balanced to emit light like natural daylight does at noon when we are most biologically active.

How was full spectrum light discovered?

When time-lapse photographer John Ott was growing a pumpkin indoors under standard cool white lights for Walt Disney's Cinderella, the female flower fell off the vine. So he changed the lights to warm white lights, the male flowers fell off. He observed that plants needed all the colors of the rainbow for proper biological health.

That started a lifetime of investigation on the effects of light on life - plant, animal and human. Further research uncovered the many effects on body, mind, and spirit and earned Dr. Ott an honorary doctorate for his groundbreaking work.

Why is the color balance important?

Every wavelength of color brings a different biological response, yet most indoor light is yellow-orange in color. Just as each element (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, etc.) burns a different color in a laboratory, each wavelength of color supports the metabolism of different nutrients and influences enzyme production and the endocrine system.

Under incomplete or distorted spectrum light, metabolism of nutrients is incomplete. For example, the blue end of the spectrum helps us calm down. Real full spectrum light also has a small important amount of invisible ultraviolet A and B, which research shows is very important to health.

How do I use it?

Simply replace your bulbs with full spectrum ones. Full spectrum light is available in fluorescent tubes, in light boxes, and in compact fluorescent spiral bulbs that save electricity. Just don't put the bulbs on a dimmer switch or a touch-on lamp or they will quickly burn out.

According to a study by Pacific Gas and Electric, natural daylight improves productivity 40%. Natural Light in schools improves test scores, immune system functioning, and reduces cavities. See the Research Section for more information.

How long can I use the spiral light bulbs?

As long as you like. After all, the sun shines all day.

If you have a light box, research suggests that you turn it off an hour or so before you want to go to sleep. See more information on the page on Box Criteria.

Why do I slow down in the winter or when I don't get outside?

Our bodies have built-in "light meters" which measure color, quality, brightness, and the amount of time we're exposed to light. We can compare our bodies to solar-powered batteries that run down with insufficient light or missing colors. Thus, symptoms may be worse in the winter, or when we work indoors or the night shift and don't have natural daylight.

How much light do I need?

The amount of light needed depends on your sensitivity, the time of year and menstrual cycle, the amount of time spent indoors, geographic location, even skin type. Fair skin responds faster; darker skin requires more light. Full spectrum light also increases visual acuity because it activates 80% more cells in our eyes.

Women are especially sensitive to light due to the menstrual cycle. Serotonin drops naturally between ovulation and the period. When it drops too low, it contributes to classic premenstrual syndrome (PMS). For more information, please order the book, PMS: Solving the Puzzle - Sixteen Causes of Premenstrual Syndrome and What to Do About It. Please go to our order page.

How much light is usually in my environment?

Normal room	100-200 lux
Brightly lit office or grocery store	1,000-2,000 lux
Cloudy, January noon in Chicago	4,000 lux
Spring sunrise	10,000 lux
Summer early afternoon	100,000 lux

Does a compact fluorescent bulb fit a standard fixture?

Yes. They screw into a standard base. They last as long as 13 standard light bulbs and use about 20% of the electricity. These bulbs are amazing!

Thanks to its electronic ballast, the brightest spiral bulb gives 150 watts of light and takes only 30 wts of electricity. All of the bulbs work safely even in fixtures that say maximum 40 watts or 60 watts of electricity. And since it doesn't use much electricity, the bulb doesn't get hot.

In a three-way fixture, the spiral bulbs will light up on the middle click.

The ballast at the base of the bulb is larger than the standard light bulb. Some fixtures may need a base extender to lift the base a little higher in the lamp. Another solution is to get a larger harp (the metal piece that holds up the lamp shade). Both are available at the local hardware store for around $2.00.

Can I use the compact fluorescent bulbs anywhere?

Yes - almost. Just don't use them with a dimmer switch or a touch-on lamp. It would burn out the ballast. Also, they can't be used outside because the ballast would get too cold to start the light.

Why do compact fluorescent bulbs cost more?

Compact fluorescent lights have more expensive phosphors or rare minerals inside the tube and have an electronic ballast that reduces energy use.

Do I have to have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and a prescription to use a light box?

No. Our light boxes are good for winter blues and for general lighting. We all benefit from high quality full spectrum light. What would life be without light?

Are your products UL-approved?

Yes. The light boxes have UL-approved parts and construction. The light bulbs are UL- and C-UL-approved.

Can I get Light for Health full spectrum lights in stores?

Some areas have them. You can ask your local store or health practitioner to carry them for you.

Chromalux bulbs say their light is full spectrum. Please explain.

The Chromalux bulb has all the colors of the spectrum, but the light is rose-colored. (Remember, there is no legal definition of "full spectrum.") Looking across the color spectrum, the Chromalux light emission is low in the important violet and blue end, the yellow is almost non-existent, and the red end is predominant. Continuing across the spectrum, the red turns to infrared or heat. This bulb loses a lot of energy in heat, which wastes electricity. The Reveal bulb from GE is similar.

I use it if I want to add a pink glow to an area. It's relaxing to the eyes but it doesn't contribute to health like a balanced full spectrum light.

Why do researchers talk about serotonin levels?

Serotonin, a neurotransmitter or neuropeptide, is high when we feel good and are relaxed, positive, focused, and have less pain. Melatonin, which helps us sleep, is produced by the brain's pineal gland when we're in the dark or dim light. Bright light, specifically blue wavelengths, switches melatonin to serotonin. Full spectrum light helps us wake up and be more alert and yet calm.

Strangely enough, when people don't really wake up, they may have difficulty sleeping. We all need to Lighten UP!

Definitions

CRI - Color Rendering Index or how the colors appear under man-made light in comparison to natural sunlight. The sun is 100 CRI. The best man-made light is in the 90s.

Kelvin - Kelvin Color Temperature Scale, refers to the quality of light emanating from an artificial light source.

Lux - Lux is a measurement of light output or intensity.

Lumens - Another measurement of brightness. We see yellow-green as the brightest color. Picture the new yellow-green for school crossings and yellow school buses.

Since yellow is the first color we see as babies, the scale for brightness measures the amount of yellow light emitted. However, yellow is the narrowest part of the color spectrum and we see better under a light that includes green, blue and violet!

What are T-8 and T-12 fluorescent tubes?

The numbers designate different diameters of fluorescent tubes.

T-8 tube: 1" diameter. (8/8ths of an inch). This is found in newer fixtures. It uses electronic ballast only. The fixtures designed for T-8s may have 2-3-4 tubes per fixture. We call our tube a ÒT8 PlusÓ because it saves energy, is full spectrum and is brighter than the others. Most T-8 tubes use 32 watts of electricity. Our outstanding Indoor Sunshine tube uses only 25 wts of electricity.

T-12 tube: 1½" diameter. (12/8ths of an inch). This is the standard size older tube. It uses magnetic ballast only. It usually uses 40 wts of electricity.

What's a Ballast?

A magnetic or electronic piece of equipment that regulates power to fluorescent tubes. There is one inside every fluorescent fixture, light box and attached to the spiral bulbs.

What's the difference between a magnetic and an electronic ballast?

A magnetic ballast cycles the light off and on 60 times a second. It's like being under a strobe light. You may hear the ballast hum or see the light flicker. It's quite annoying. A magnetic ballast is one of the causes of Sick Building Syndrome. Many people dislike fluorescent lights because of magnetic ballasts.

An electronic ballast turns the light off and on 50,000 times a second. Our bodies perceive this as a steady light and can relax. Stress hormones decrease. The best electronic ballasts (like ours) emit only very, very low levels of EMFs or electromagnetic frequencies. The ballast is quiet and the light doesn't flicker.

Why do you, Linaya Hahn, President of Light for Health, use full spectrum light?

The research is convincing and I feel better and more alert, and more relaxed with full spectrum light. It's easier to concentrate. I can see better and colors are beautiful. I was previously a licensed nutritionist and I want to live to a healthy advanced age. What could be simpler than turning on a light bulb?

I have a combination light box for those dark days, and four foot tubes in my office, kitchen and basement. People comment that my kitchen looks as if it has a skylight. ItÕs my Indoor Sunshine. I've got bulbs over my kitchen table, in my living room, in hanging lamps throughout the house and in the bathroom. I even have got them in my desk lamp.

Light is important! And it must be high quality light!!! What would life be without it?

Order Now!