Artificial lights: helpful or harmful?
Yesterday we had some friends over for dinner. Something we do semi regularly. But after a night with our friends, every time, no matter what time people leave at we are always thrown off of our sleep cycles. After some thought of why this might be I have come to the conclusion that the culprit is the use of artificial lights.
You see we only use minimal artificial lighting in our normal day to day life. We have some twinkle lights and we use the bathroom light and that's about it so when the sun goes down the twinklers go on and we just make it work. We do this except for when we have guests over, then we make the exception to flip the switch and turn on the big light so that everyone can see properly. But is this really helpful!?
So once again I turned to Dr. Google to do a little research on the effects of artificial lighting and my oh my they are way more harmful then I ever could have imagined! Let's start from the beginning. When night time rolls around and we mindlessly flip on a light so of course we can see better what we don't see happening is that that seemingly harmless light is actually suppressing the production of melatonin. So what right!? Well melatonin is responsible for regulating the bodies sleep-wake cycles so of course to start sleep is going to be all messed up. On a more serious note, melatonin suppression is surprisingly also linked to increased cancer risks! Yikes!
Something else that I think we should all remember are all those nights after having really crappy sleep how the whole next day you just feel terrible... You remember those days right!? I certainly do. Lol. Well that's because circadian rhythms are essential for your overall health and wellness. We all need natural light and dark phases, it's important for all your bodily functions.
Optimal health requires you to be exposed to natural light everyday and to limit the exposure of artificial lights with an emphasis on reducing artificial lighting. Too much artificial light can make you sick! Throw off the circadian rhythm, which is what these little lights are doing, and a list of health issue are way more likely to occur. Things such as obesity and metabolic disorders such as diabetes. Pro-inflammatory activation of the immune system, muscle loss, and early signs of osteoporosis. Holy beegeezes!
There are tons of studies showing these awful results over and over again. Plus side though Is that studies also show that it takes about 2 weeks of being on a proper sleep-wake cycle for these issues to resolve... Well most of the time. So take care of yourself and turn off those lights.
Very interesting post. Google verifies what you are saying.
https://www.google.com/search?gs_ivs=1&q=artificial+light+sleep+study
Thanx so much
Interesting.
I think the old style bulbs are OK. It's the weird new so called "eco ones" filled with mercury that cause the problems.
The dinner party looks great!
You are completely right! The Mercury bulbs are the worst possible choice. Although my point is about the effects of any artificial light our body receives. Thanx for stopping by and sharing your thoughts on lights! And thanx it was a great dinner party!
I am SOOOO with you on this!! I HATE bright and fluorescent lights and am known to be a candle junkie (post in draft mode) and a lover of soft mood lighting. Yup, I have cats eyes and can see in the dark. Sleeping in the dark MATTERS. Real darkness. As does waking onto natural light. Love this post and SO MUCH more to say. Wonderful work, Lady!
I can see in the dark really well too... but hubby needs a light to crosss the room! I dont know what thats all aboit. I always think hes not really 'looking' or maybe not using his other senses or has his echo location switched off..
My husband trained me to see in the dark many many years ago when we were backpacking. We would be hiking around looking for a good place to set up and he didn't like lights as we were stealth campers. He said I'd get used to it and adjust and I totally did. Though till I adjusted it completely freaked me out wandering around not being able to see where I was stepping. Lol. Fun times.
Sounds like he gave you a good skill there!! I haven't managed to train my husband yet, haha... I go out without a torch and he's like: How can you see? And i'm like - der - with my eyes?
Stealth camping sounds fun!!! You'd be good in an apocalypse!! My husband would have all the fires and lights on- no, that's not quite true... He's pretty good really. xxx
Bahahaha! I'm sure you will train him in due time! And yes he definitely gave me a wonderful and useful skill 😍
I used to be a candle junkie till I learned about the toxins most candles are releasing into the air. That was a sad day for me. I'm sure there are clean candies I just haven't looked into much due to having a Kai who would most definitely try to get the candles! Yikes! Twinkle lights will have to do for now. Can't wait to read YOUR post on lights! I like how we have so many similar topics going on 😍
Fluoro lighting is terrible for sure. Ill have to look into the lights we use. They seem to be okay and I sleep like the dead most nights... but then we dont have the house lit up like a lighthouse and I do love candles! I found 2 of these at a charity shop the other day and i was beyond excited that they threw hearts on the walls! I do get my kicks at the simplest things...
I really liked this post as its got me thinking!
Those are so cute! I agree completely it's the little things that brings me some of the most joy! From what I've learned it's all artificial lights. The less the better. Definitely bright fluorescent lights are way worse than little twinkly lights like we use but it's still doing something. Just doing our best at minimizing.