Modern lighting is as toxic as modern food.
It makes us fat, sick, sad, blind, & more.
What’s worse is that those in power made a change that is now forcing us to use it, against our will.
Here are the problems with modern lighting, and what you should do and use instead 🧵
It makes us fat, sick, sad, blind, & more.
What’s worse is that those in power made a change that is now forcing us to use it, against our will.
Here are the problems with modern lighting, and what you should do and use instead 🧵
About a year ago, the Biden administration passed a regulation that made it so that incandescent bulbs could no longer be produced or sold in the United States.
This was done to make way for LEDs and bring down energy costs and impact nationwide.
This was done to make way for LEDs and bring down energy costs and impact nationwide.
The problem is that typical LED lights are toxic to humans, and they aren’t actually great for the environment.
Why are these things ruining our health and what are some things I recommend doing to fight back? 🔽
Why are these things ruining our health and what are some things I recommend doing to fight back? 🔽
Sleep
We were made to live in a 24-hour cycle with the sun.
This circadian rhythm is an all-important cycle that helps our body function.
It helps us feel awake during the day and sleep through the night.
Modern lighting ruins that cycle.
We were made to live in a 24-hour cycle with the sun.
This circadian rhythm is an all-important cycle that helps our body function.
It helps us feel awake during the day and sleep through the night.
Modern lighting ruins that cycle.
During the day, we are meant to be exposed to bright light, which includes blue light.
This keeps us awake and alert.
As natural light dims and reds, our body takes that queue and starts producing melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep, protects cells, and so much more.
This keeps us awake and alert.
As natural light dims and reds, our body takes that queue and starts producing melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep, protects cells, and so much more.
Artificial lighting, and specifically LEDs, ruins this cycle.
When you get blue light in your eyes or on your skin after the sun has set, you are confusing your body and inhibiting melatonin production.
This leads to all sorts of issues, especially affecting sleep.
When you get blue light in your eyes or on your skin after the sun has set, you are confusing your body and inhibiting melatonin production.
This leads to all sorts of issues, especially affecting sleep.
Typical LED lights are especially bad because they produce more blue light than incandescents.
This light has a shorter wavelength and suppresses melatonin more than other, warmer types of light.
I will get into how to combat this a little bit later. But first, more problems.
This light has a shorter wavelength and suppresses melatonin more than other, warmer types of light.
I will get into how to combat this a little bit later. But first, more problems.
Weight and Metabolism
The body’s metabolism is extremely tied to its circadian rhythm.
Exposure to light after sunset or in the middle of the night messes up our ability to process glucose. This raises blood sugar levels and can lead to obesity, sickness, and even type 2 diabetes.
The body’s metabolism is extremely tied to its circadian rhythm.
Exposure to light after sunset or in the middle of the night messes up our ability to process glucose. This raises blood sugar levels and can lead to obesity, sickness, and even type 2 diabetes.
Beyond that, blue light at night causes hormonal imbalances:
Suppressed melatonin also suppresses fat metabolism, which leads to excess fat on the body.
Leptin and Ghrelin confusion. Disrupted sleep leads these two hormones to become imbalanced, leading to more cravings of food
Suppressed melatonin also suppresses fat metabolism, which leads to excess fat on the body.
Leptin and Ghrelin confusion. Disrupted sleep leads these two hormones to become imbalanced, leading to more cravings of food
Blue light after hours makes your body less satisfied with the food it eats and constantly forces you to crave more.
Even when you eat, you will not be full due to the leptin and ghrelin imbalances caused by that blue light.
Blue light at night makes you fat.
Even when you eat, you will not be full due to the leptin and ghrelin imbalances caused by that blue light.
Blue light at night makes you fat.
The Heart
Research has found that disruption of circadian rhythm can elevate blood pressure and can lead to things like heart attacks and strokes.
Zapping yourself with blue light after sunset is absolutely a contributor to our heart disease epidemic.
Research has found that disruption of circadian rhythm can elevate blood pressure and can lead to things like heart attacks and strokes.
Zapping yourself with blue light after sunset is absolutely a contributor to our heart disease epidemic.
Mental Health
I believe modern lighting is a large reason why we are currently less mentally healthy than any other time in human history.
As I already talked about, circadian rhythm throws your hormones (cortisol, melatonin, and more) out of whack.
I believe modern lighting is a large reason why we are currently less mentally healthy than any other time in human history.
As I already talked about, circadian rhythm throws your hormones (cortisol, melatonin, and more) out of whack.
These hormones are what help us sleep and function correctly cognitively, both of which are strongly linked to our mental health.
Modern lighting and, specifically, blue light after dark, heavily influence our mental health.
Modern lighting and, specifically, blue light after dark, heavily influence our mental health.
Eye Health
Our eyes are run by circadian rhythm. Getting sunlight in your eyes is essential to your health and your vision.
With modern lighting, we are typically outside less and under artificial lighting more, leading to degenerating vision.
Our eyes are run by circadian rhythm. Getting sunlight in your eyes is essential to your health and your vision.
With modern lighting, we are typically outside less and under artificial lighting more, leading to degenerating vision.
We are not meant to need glasses, but modern lighting and lifestyle are why we do.
I always avoid sunglasses and allow light into my eyes, within reason, while also avoiding artificial light after sundown.
This is part of the recipe to healthy vision.
I always avoid sunglasses and allow light into my eyes, within reason, while also avoiding artificial light after sundown.
This is part of the recipe to healthy vision.
Flicker
Flicker takes place in many cheaper LED lights.
This is typically not perceivable to the human eye but can still do damage.
This can cause eye strain, migraines, cognitive issues, further disrupted circadian rhythm, and more.
Yet LEDs are mandated by the government.
Flicker takes place in many cheaper LED lights.
This is typically not perceivable to the human eye but can still do damage.
This can cause eye strain, migraines, cognitive issues, further disrupted circadian rhythm, and more.
Yet LEDs are mandated by the government.
The Environment
LEDs may last longer than incandescents, but this doesn’t mean they are environmentally friendly.
LEDs are made with mined earth metals like arsenic and lead. These are harder to recycle and can leach into the soil and environment like poison.
LEDs may last longer than incandescents, but this doesn’t mean they are environmentally friendly.
LEDs are made with mined earth metals like arsenic and lead. These are harder to recycle and can leach into the soil and environment like poison.
How To Fight Back
Now it’s not all doom and gloom.
There are absolutely ways that you can combat this modern lighting problem 🔽
Now it’s not all doom and gloom.
There are absolutely ways that you can combat this modern lighting problem 🔽
Embrace The Sun
This first solution is obvious. Get in the sun first thing when you wake up and spend time in it throughout the day.
The sun is the most important resource we have for setting our circadian rhythm. Embrace it early and often.
This first solution is obvious. Get in the sun first thing when you wake up and spend time in it throughout the day.
The sun is the most important resource we have for setting our circadian rhythm. Embrace it early and often.
Circadian-Friendly Lighting
Lighting that does not interrupt your circadian rhythm is essential in today’s day and age.
Many companies have understood this problem and have started to come out with lightbulbs designed to do exactly that.
Lighting that does not interrupt your circadian rhythm is essential in today’s day and age.
Many companies have understood this problem and have started to come out with lightbulbs designed to do exactly that.
These lights have multiple settings so that during the day, they mimic daylight, during sunset, they mimic a more orange light, and after that, they mimic a campfire with a very red tone.
Red barely disrupts our rhythm compared to blue, so red lights after sunset are essential.
Red barely disrupts our rhythm compared to blue, so red lights after sunset are essential.
In general, I would say traditional (cheap and flicker often with white-looking light) LED’s are worst.
Then warmer-colored NO FLICKER LEDs.
Then incandescents (that can dim).
Then circadian-friendly lights like I touched on.
And best but least practical is fire/candles.
Then warmer-colored NO FLICKER LEDs.
Then incandescents (that can dim).
Then circadian-friendly lights like I touched on.
And best but least practical is fire/candles.
Electronics
For these same reasons, it is essential to make sure not to use your phone with normal settings after sunset.
Settings -> Accessibility -> Display and Text Size -> Color filters -> Turn red all the way up.
This helps save your circadian rhythm.
For these same reasons, it is essential to make sure not to use your phone with normal settings after sunset.
Settings -> Accessibility -> Display and Text Size -> Color filters -> Turn red all the way up.
This helps save your circadian rhythm.
I also have mine set so when I triple click the power button, it automatically toggles so I don’t have to go into my settings every evening.
Having an easy-to-access fully red filter is essential to your circadian health if using electronics after sundown.
Having an easy-to-access fully red filter is essential to your circadian health if using electronics after sundown.
In general, modern lighting is not conducive to our health.
Be thoughtful about living according to the sun’s rhythm and implement these strategies.
You will not just survive but will truly thrive.
Be thoughtful about living according to the sun’s rhythm and implement these strategies.
You will not just survive but will truly thrive.
This is truly a huge problem in our modern world that not enough are talking about and I will be touching on it again in the future
If you are looking to go deeper, my friend @zaidkdahhaj goes more in-depth on circadian health than anyone else I have seen
Stay Vital Out There!
If you are looking to go deeper, my friend @zaidkdahhaj goes more in-depth on circadian health than anyone else I have seen
Stay Vital Out There!
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