Can’t sleep? Can’t lose weight? Fatigued during the day? Suffering from brain fog? Exposure to blue light may be to blame.
Blue light is a high-energy visible light that is naturally generated by the sun. In the past, we were only exposed to blue light during daylight hours. Exposure to blue light during the day is important for our health. It boosts our mood, allows us to focus, helps us to remain alert and regulates our sleep-wake cycle. However, we are now exposed to blue light after daylight hours and this is detrimental to our health.
How are we being exposed to blue light after the sun goes down? Our televisions, computers, tablets, phones and more are emitting blue light. Most of us are guilty of using these devices at the wrong time and this added exposure to blue light has our bodies thinking it is always daytime. Blue light suppresses melatonin – our sleep hormone – and consequently disrupts our sleep-wake cycle.Once the cycle is disrupted, it becomes difficult to reset. Many people suffer from sleepless nights, which set off a cascade of events that can ultimately lead to weight gain, chronic fatigue, emotional distress and brain fog.
So what can we do? First and foremost, remove all blue light from the bedroom. Give yourself half an hour before bed to unwind without any technology. Second, try to set a sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, including the weekends, so that your body can re-establish a proper sleep-wake cycle. Finally, make an effort to expose yourself to natural blue light during the day. Put down the device and go for a walk, eat your lunch on a park bench or relax under a tree and read a book. We miss a lot of the beauty around us when we have our noses buried in our screens!
To learn more, visit these informational websites: