Artificial light could be throwing off your bodies rhythm and playing a roll in chronic illness.
The sun is no longer the main source of light for much of todays society. In fact, we have reduced our exposure to sunlight and replaced it with an over consumption of artificial lighting sources. Many research studies have shown that too much blue light can disrupt the circadian rhythm impacting multiple bodily systems.
Processes such as glucose metabolism, body temperature, cognitive performance, hormone release and mitochondrial activity are tied to our circadian rhythm. Healthy light consumption along with a balanced diet can help the body to function at its best.
Our retinas and our skin have special receptors that detect blue light. Blue light has been found to disrupt melatonin activity in our bodies via these receptors.
Melatonin is known for being associated with our sleep cycle. Additional research as shown that it is also important in processes such as energy production, metabolic processing and immune modulation.
Constant exposure to artificial light can decrease melatonin levels and desynchronize the circadian clock, in turn affects sleep quality, alters metabolism, disrupts cellular repair and decreases cognitive function. A constant circadian disruption can play a role in chronic health conditions including:
- Metabolic Disorders
- Obesity
- Decreased Immune Function
- Neurodegenerative Disorders
- Mental Health/ Mood Disorders
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Gut Dysfunction
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
What can you do about limiting your blue light consumption? Here are some options!
Get outside more! Synthesis of melatonin begins in the morning. It is a derivative of tryptophan, an aromatic amino acid specialized to capture UV light. When you expose your eyes and skin to low doses of UV light, tryptophan production is stimulated, eventually leading to synthesis of melatonin.
If you spend a lot of time looking at screens, wear blue-light blocking glasses , limit technology use when possible and adjust your device settings!
Change your bed time routine! Try to spend the last hour of your day blue light free. Shut off your devices and keep your phone away from you when you sleep.
We can discuss your sleep habits and help you to find the best way for you to achieve a restful nights sleep. We offer comprehensive neuroendocrine tests that pinpoint amino acid levels, oxidative stress and stress hormones so that we can implement strategic treatment protocols for your sleep issues. Sleep is incredibly important and excessive loss can lead to things like brain atrophy. If you are suffering from insomnia we can discuss the best way for you to tackle it and finally get the good night's sleep you deserve.
Don’t light up the night. (n.d.). Wholescripts, 3(1).