Artificial light can make you fat, sad and tired. How to fix it.

by Michael Carroll October 30, 2023

Why You Need Darkness as Much as Light

Darkness isn’t just the absence of light—it’s a biological signal for repair, restoration, and growth. Without regular exposure to true darkness, your body’s ability to regenerate diminishes.

When you embrace natural light cycles and reduce artificial exposure, your body rewards you with deeper sleep, balanced hormones, clearer thinking, and a renewed sense of vitality.

The Hidden Cost of Artificial Light: How Blue Light Sabotages Your Health

We live in a world flooded with artificial light—screens glow late into the night, LEDs shine through every room, and the natural rhythm of darkness has been all but erased. Yet, this constant exposure to artificial light, especially blue light, is quietly sabotaging your health, mood, and metabolism.

Here’s the hard truth: Artificial light is not neutral. It disrupts your biology on a cellular level, throwing off the systems that have evolved over millions of years in harmony with the sun and moon. The result? Poor sleep, weight gain, low energy, and even chronic disease.

The Biological Power of Light: Not All Light Is Created Equal

Light isn’t just brightness—it’s biological information. Natural sunlight is a full spectrum of light, delivering a balanced dose of wavelengths that fuel your body’s internal rhythms. Blue light at the right time of day, plays a role in boosting alertness and mood. But here’s the catch—artificial light(specifically blue), especially at night, is a biological disruptor.

Circadian Disruption: Blue light exposure after sunset confuses your body’s internal clock (the circadian rhythm), suppressing melatonin production and making it harder to fall asleep.
Hormonal Imbalance: Disrupted sleep means disrupted hormones. Cortisol remains elevated at night, while growth hormone and testosterone production decrease, sabotaging recovery and fat loss.
Mitochondrial Stress: Constant artificial light exposure increases oxidative stress on your mitochondria, reducing energy production and accelerating aging.

How Blue Light Exposure Affects Your Body and Mind

If you’re constantly exposed to artificial light, your body never truly winds down. Over time, this can lead to:

Poor Sleep Quality: Reduced melatonin means lighter, restless sleep.
Weight Gain: Disrupted circadian rhythms impair glucose metabolism, leading to increased fat storage.
Mood Disorders: Studies show links between nighttime blue light exposure and increased rates of depression and anxiety.
Cognitive Fatigue: Your brain works harder under constant blue light exposure, reducing focus and clarity.

The Modern Trap: Screens, LEDs, and Endless Stimulation

Our bodies evolved with firelight and moonlight after dark—soft, red, and calming. Today, we’re bombarded with harsh, unnatural lighting from phones, computers, TVs, and energy-efficient bulbs. The problem? Modern light sources emit excessive blue light, keeping your brain on high alert long after the sun has set.

The result is a perfect storm: poor sleep, sluggish mornings, chronic fatigue, and hormonal imbalances.

Practical Steps to Protect Yourself from Artificial Light Damage

The solution isn’t to retreat from technology—it’s to use it wisely. Here’s how to take back control:

Limit Screen Time After Sunset: Set a digital curfew 1-2 hours before bed.
Use Blue Light Filters: Apps like f.lux or built-in settings on devices can help reduce blue light exposure.
Invest in Blue Light Blocking Glasses: Wear them after sunset to shield your eyes and protect your circadian rhythm.
Dim the Lights at Night: Switch to red or amber bulbs in the evening.
Get Natural Morning Sunlight: Expose yourself to real sunlight within 30 minutes of waking to reset your internal clock.

Final Thoughts: Reclaim Your Natural Rhythm

Modern life has hijacked your biology, but you can take back control. Protect your circadian rhythm, respect the power of light and darkness, and watch your energy, mood, and health transform. The solution is simple—less artificial light, more natural rhythms.

To be clear, light and dark cycles are fundamental to our health. Think back to the last time you experienced jet lag—that disorienting feeling isn’t just travel fatigue; it’s your body’s internal clock being thrown off. Chronic exposure to artificial light has a similar effect, creating a state of constant, low-grade jet lag. The good news? Reducing artificial light exposure requires minimal effort and can deliver significant benefits for your sleep, energy levels, and overall well-being.

Rebuild your connection to light the way nature intended, and discover how much better you can feel when you stop letting artificial light sabotage your health.