NORTH FORK, CA – Light from man-made sources does not match sunlight.  This artificial light gives your body incorrect information from your environment, and affects your biology.

Sunlight is as important as food when it comes to providing your body with what it needs to function properly.  Artificial light is like giving your body junk food.  It is junk light.

The spectrum of light that is present in the sun is different than incandescent light, and very different than fluorescent and LED light.  This picture shows sunlight at noon, and you can see that it naturally contains blue light.  The same natural light contains more red at sunrise and sunset.

Blue light in sunshine at noon is instructing your biology to function based on your circadian rhythm.  This is the natural cycle of physical, mental, and behavior changes that the body goes through in a 24 hour cycle, including appropriate hormone changes.  When you turn on LED lights in the evening, you are telling your body it is noon.  This is not healthy.  This blue light is also present in screens – phones, television and computers.

What can you do?  On a phone you can change the screen color at night to be more red.  On a computer you can use an app such as flux and iris.  Such changes may or may not be possible on your television screen.  You can also wear blue blocking glasses.  But be aware that you will still be getting exposure through any exposed skin.  These remedies will definitely change the colors you see.  There are pros and cons to all of our modern technology, and you have to decide what your priorities are.  If health is a priority, that will guide the choices you make.

Another thing you can do is use lights that match the light of sunset as closely as possible.  The best is firelight or candlelight.  Next best are low wattage, red or orange incandescent bulbs.  LED lights of this type are not widely available yet.  Another problem with LED lights is the flicker that is usually just below your awareness.  Avoiding bright light is especially important for 1-2 hours before you want to go to sleep.  Bright light for even a brief period can significantly drop your melatonin and interfere with sleep.  This picture shows the contrast between bright blue light and soft warm light.

If you break the laws of nature, the consequences can be significant disruption of your biology, resulting in poor health.  Some of the signs of a disrupted circadian rhythm are difficulty with sleep, mood, low libido, erectile dysfunction, low energy, and much more.

You can find previous articles here:  Focus On Vibrant Health.

Dr. Veronica Tilden can be your ally in having vibrant health.  She uses traditional hands-on osteopathy and helps you take responsibility for your health, guiding you to make better choices in your life.  Her office is in North Fork.  You can find out more and schedule an appointment at DrVeronicaTilden.com.