ZOE Science & Nutrition
ZOE Science & Nutrition
ZOE
The science of winter depression with Prof. Debra Skene – leading chronobiologist
59 minutes Posted Oct 30, 2025 at 12:17 pm.
The surprising link between your body clock and major diseases
Quick-fire round: Body clocks, weight gain, and meal timing
You have a 'master clock' ticking in your brain
What is 'gut lag'?
Why light is the most reliable signal for your body (it's not weather)
Light's 'non-visual' effects: How light affects your mood and performance
What studies on blind people reveal about our internal clocks
The shocking health risks of night shift work
Why you are 'definitely eating at the wrong time'
The same meal at midnight gives you higher blood fats
Why living in a cave for a month is 'pretty healthy'
Are you a 'lark' or an 'owl'? The biology of chronotypes
What is 'social jet lag' (and why is it linked to weight gain)?
How winter light changes your body clock
The direct link between light and 'winter depression'
Do light boxes actually work for winter depression?
The discovery of melanopsin: The specific color of light that controls your clock
Does blue light from your phone really matter for sleep?
Why light intensity matters more than blue light
The cheapest and most effective way to get morning light (even in winter)
Food sets your 'peripheral clocks', but not your master clock
Why mealtime consistency is the most important rule
Is daylight saving time bad for our health?
Summary: Key takeaways for sleep, mood, and eating
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Winter is almost here! Temperatures are dropping, clouds are descending, and the clocks have changed. 
Many of you might be worrying that the Winter Blues are on their way, but perhaps they don’t need to be? Perhaps we can work with our natural, biological rhythms to fend off this blue phase.
Today, we’re joined by Prof. Debra Skene, Section Lead of Chronobiology at the University of Surrey and a global authority on circadian rhythms. With over 190 research publications, she’s spent 25 years studying how light and timing affect sleep, mood, and metabolic health.
After listening to this episode, you’ll be armed with solid advice that will help you weather winter with a smile, maintaining good health and good mood until the warmth returns.
Timecodes:
📚Books by our ZOE Scientists
The Food For Life Cookbook
Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati
Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector
Ferment by Prof. Tim Spector
Free resources from ZOE
Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition
Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks 
Better Breakfast Guide
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Episode transcripts are available⁠ here⁠.