“Standard Time aligns much closer to the Sun’s peak than Daylight Saving Time as it should be.”
Health experts strongly agree that standard time is significantly better for human health than daylight saving time (DST). The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and circadian biologists recommend making standard time permanent, as it closely aligns with our natural body clocks.
Key health benefits of standard time include:
- Better Circadian Alignment: Standard time provides more morning sunlight and earlier evening darkness. Morning light resets our internal clock, while darker evenings naturally trigger melatonin production, promoting deeper, more restorative sleep.
- Reduced “Social Jet Lag”: DST forces our bodies into chronic misalignment with the sun’s natural cycle. This mismatch is linked to higher rates of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and depression.
- Decreased Acute Health Risks: The sudden shift to DST in the spring is tied to an immediate spike in strokes, heart attacks, and traffic accidents. Permanent standard time avoids this traumatic biannual transition.
By contrast, permanent DST would force us to endure darker, more dangerous winter mornings, negatively impacting commuter safety and contributing to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Submitted by A Longtime Health Advocate & Environmental Activist
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