Consuming light

RESEARCH ON LIGHT AND HEALTH

Numerous studies have highlighted the importance of light for health and wellbeing. For instance, research has shown that individuals who are exposed to natural light during the day tend to have better sleep quality and are less likely to experience sleep disorders. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that office workers with more natural light exposure reported better sleep quality, longer sleep duration, and improved overall health compared to those with less natural light exposure.

Another study conducted by the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute found that exposure to bright light during the day can improve mood and cognitive performance. The researchers concluded that light exposure is a simple yet effective way to enhance mental health and productivity.

Beyond the research around light stimulus within the visible spectrum, a study published in the Journal of Biophotonics revealed that exposure to Near Infrared (NIR) light could reduce blood glucose levels. From the same journal another study showed that intensive care patients treated with NIR had a reduced length of stay in ICU by 30 per cent. If the long wavelengths of light that have been removed from our indoor environments as they have been deemed inefficient, can have such a positive impact on our metabolic and physiological functions, what else have we yet to learn? What more are we missing?

We are also learning that the shorter wavelengths, ultraviolet light, can also have a significant positive impact on us and this is described in a paper published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology titled ‘Sunlight: Time for a Rethink’. In this paper Professor Richard Weller reveals that exposure to sunlight has a reductive impact on all-cause mortality.

CHALLENGES OF INSUFFICIENT LIGHT

Despite the clear benefits of natural light, many people do not get enough exposure to it. Modern lifestyles often involve spending long hours indoors, whether at work, school, or home. Lack of natural light can disrupt circadian rhythms, leading to sleep problems, fatigue, and decreased productivity, as well as an increase metabolic and cardiovascular issues, which further impact productivity.

Moreover, insufficient light exposure can have serious implications for mental health. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs at certain times of the year, usually in the winter when daylight hours are shorter. People with SAD may experience symptoms such as low energy, difficulty concentrating, and changes in appetite and sleep patterns.

In addition to SAD, a lack of natural light can contribute to other mental health issues. For example, a study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives found that individuals with limited exposure to natural light were more likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety.

As we continue to disconnect ourselves from the natural world and subject ourselves to more and more ultra-processed elements such as foods, light and potentially buildings we may be increasing our rate of entropy or driving ourselves towards pathogenesis.

It is important to start to consider light as more than simply a visual aid. Light is a fundamental component for life, as important as our nutrition, our movement, the air we breathe, and the sleep we allow ourselves to have. Light is too often misunderstood as being something that just allows us to see.