Block Artificial Light
TLDR - Artificial light at night can disrupt sleep, repair processes, and circadian rhythms. Exposure to artificial light on our skin can cause health concerns, as it lacks the healing forms of light provided by the sun.
Expanded
In our modern world, artificial light is everywhere. While these advancements have brought many conveniences, they have also introduced significant disruptions to our natural biological processes. One of the most critical aspects of our health that is affected by artificial light is our sleep.
Evolution and the Natural Cycle of Light and Darkness
For over 300,000 years, humans evolved in an environment where the natural cycle of light and darkness dictated our daily rhythms. During the day, exposure to sunlight helped regulate our circadian rhythm, including sleep wake cycles, hormone release, and body temperature. As the sun set, darkness signaled to our bodies that it was time to rest and repair.
In the absence of artificial light, our ancestors experienced long periods of darkness each night. This darkness was crucial for the production of melatonin, a hormone that not only helps us fall asleep but also plays a vital role in repairing and rejuvenating our bodies. Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland in response to darkness and is responsible for initiating various repair pathways, including mitochondrial repair, DNA repair, and the removal of damaged cells.
The Impact of Artificial Light on Melatonin Production
Artificial light, especially blue light emitted by screens and LED bulbs, can significantly disrupt melatonin production. When we expose our eyes to artificial light at night, it sends a signal to our brain that it is still daytime, suppressing the release of melatonin. This suppression can have several negative consequences:
Reduced Sleep Quality: Without adequate melatonin, it becomes harder to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Impaired Repair Mechanisms: Melatonin is essential for activating various repair pathways in the body. When melatonin production is suppressed, these repair processes are disrupted, leading to increased cellular damage and a higher risk of chronic diseases.
Hormonal Imbalances: Disrupted melatonin production can affect the balance of other hormones, including cortisol, which can lead to increased stress and anxiety.
Mood Disorders: Lack of melatonin and poor sleep quality can contribute to mood disorders such as depression and anxiety.
The Role of EMFs
In addition to visible artificial light, EMFs from wireless devices and other electronic equipment can also disrupt melatonin production. EMFs are a non visible form of light that our pineal gland can register as light, leading to the suppression of melatonin. Research has shown that exposure to EMFs at night can have similar effects to visible artificial light, including:
Suppressed Melatonin Production: EMFs can interfere with the natural production of melatonin, leading to reduced sleep quality and impaired repair mechanisms.
Increased Stress Levels: EMFs can contribute to increased cortisol levels, leading to higher stress and anxiety.
Weakened Immune System: Disrupted melatonin production and poor sleep quality can weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to illnesses and infections.
How to Block Artificial Light and EMFs at Night
To protect your melatonin production and ensure restful sleep, it's essential to take steps to block artificial light and EMFs at night:
Use Blue Light Filters: Install blue light filters on your devices or use apps that reduce blue light emission in the evening.
Wear Blue Light Blocking Glasses: These glasses can help filter out blue light, allowing your brain to recognize that it's nighttime. Orange or red tinted glasses are the best options after the sun goes down.
Use Incandescent Light Bulbs: Although these bulbs are banned in many places, you can still purchase them for “decorative use.” They are the best option for home use as they most closely replicate natural sunlight. Unlike LEDs, incandescent bulbs contain the infrared range and have less intense blue light.
Unplug and Disconnect: Turn off electronic devices and unplug wireless routers before bed to reduce EMF exposure.
Create a Dark Sleep Environment: Use blackout curtains to block external light and cover any small light sources in your bedroom, such as alarm clocks or electronic devices. Red and black stickers can be purchased to block the small and intense lights from electronics.
Window Light
In addition to the effects of artificial light and EMFs at night, it's important to consider the impact of window filtered sunlight on our skin. Studies have shown that truckers who receive sunlight through their vehicle windows on their left side often have significantly aged skin on that side of their face. This aging is likely due to the fact that window glass blocks beneficial infrared and other healing spectrums of light, while allowing harmful blue light to pass through.
Trucker skin damage article - What’s interesting is the immediate reaction is to avoid sun and lather on sunscreen. Is it the sun that is the problem or not seeing the full spectrum of sunlight that we evolved with?
Link to Red Light Therapy Post - Windows block the healing infrared frequencies of light.
Impact of Artificial Light on Skin
Our indoor lighting is often heavy in blue light, especially as incandescent bulbs are being phased out due to their energy inefficiency. Over time, if our skin is predominantly exposed to stimulating blue frequencies of light without the balancing and healing effects of red and infrared light, it can lead to accelerated aging, increased skin damage, and a higher risk of skin related issues. Our world is highly focused on avoiding the natural light we have evolved with over 300,000+ years, but is this the true problem? Does it logically make more sense to avoid what our bodies adapted to through evolution or what was only recently introduced in the last few generations?
Link to Skin Cancer Post
Artificial Light and Animals
Artificial light poses significant challenges to the natural rhythms and behaviors of animal life around us. As urban areas expand and artificial light sources become bigger, brighter, and more diverse than natural sunlight, they disrupt the natural cycles that many species rely on for survival. Nocturnal animals depend on darkness to hunt, avoid predators, and regulate their internal clocks. Light pollution confuses these natural behaviors, leading to disrupted sleep patterns, altered migration routes, and disrupted mating behaviors. Many species, from insects to birds and mammals, are sensitive to specific wavelengths of light, particularly blue and white light emitted by LEDs and other modern sources. This interference can have cascading effects on ecosystems, potentially impacting biodiversity and food chains. Managing artificial light to minimize its ecological impact is important in preserving the delicate balance of natural habitats and supporting the health of all forms of life on our planet.