The Real Dangers of Artificial Light to Your Health
We are surrounded by artificial light sources in our daily life, whether it is the light in our office or from our phone screen. Artificial light can impact your health in a variety of ways, but why is this a problem? The problem lies in the color spectrum that artificial light uses. Nearly all types of light from the screens we use including our laptops, televisions, tablets and phones include a blue spectrum that is more intense than normal sunlight. Sunlight, by the way, incorporates all of the color spectrums.
The blue color spectrum can impact your health in several ways. First, blue light as part of normal sunlight is required by the body for just part of the day. Blue light is what triggers your body to get up and go. Take a plant, for example: The blue spectrum is the wake-up call for plants to open their blooms. The same is true for humans, it is the signal that tells the human body when it is time to get up and out of bed or to start the day. This is a unique spectrum with a unique function that wakes our body up. Blue light is also tied into our metabolism
https://naturalon.com/the-real-dangers-of-artificial-light-to-your-health/view-all/
Too Much Artificial Light Exposure Can Make You Sick
Maintaining natural 24-hour circadian rhythms is essential for your well-being.
Health experts are increasingly aware that limiting your exposure to artificial light—while making sure to get some exposure to natural light—within a given 24-hour cycle is key to staying healthy. New research shows that the last century of artificial light pollution is an environmental hazard that is causing our circadian rhythms—which have evolved since the beginning of time—to go haywire.
It's no wonder our chronobiological clocks are discombobulated. After relying on the sun, moon, and stars to guide our waking and sleeping hours for millennia, it's been less than 100 years since humans en masse have been exposed to artificial lighting—which has become omnipresent in the early 21st century.
From a historical perspective, it's hard to imagine that Thomas Edison didn't even invent the lightbulb until 1878. At the time, he declared, "We will make electricity so cheap that only the rich will burn candles." In 1882, Edison opened his Pearl Street Power Station which provided electricity to a handful of customer in lower Manhattan for the first time in history. Electricity and artificial lighting didn't became widely available in the United States until the 1930s.
The rising and setting of the sun influences every cell in our bodies and is literally hardwired into your neurobiology. Almost every organism on earth—from single-cell algae to humans—has an internal circadian clock that corresponds closely with the seasonal 24-hour cycles of darkness and light.
Human sleep patterns are largely governed by our internal circadian clock. In humans and animals, circadian patterns follow a 24-hour cycle which is directed by the circadian control center of the brain, called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), located in the hypothalamus.
In 2013, researchers at MIT reported that when circadian rhythm are thrown off, health problems including obesity and metabolic disorders such as diabetes can arise. People who work night shifts have an increased susceptibility to obesity and diabetes. The researchers at MIT also discovered a link between a disruption in circadian cycles and aging. In a statement,Leonard Guarente senior author of the paper said,
"Just about everything that takes place physiologically is really staged along the circadian cycle. What's now emerging is the idea that maintaining the circadian cycle is quite important in health maintenance, and if it gets broken, there's a penalty to be paid in health and perhaps in aging."
Today, a new animal study from the Netherlands reports that constant exposure to light triggered pro-inflammatory activation of the immune system, muscle loss, and early signs of osteoporosis.
The July 2016 study, "Environmental 24-Hour Cycles Are Essential for Health," was published in the journal Current Biology. In a statement, lead author, Johanna Meijer, said,
"Our study shows that the environmental light-dark cycle is important for health. We showed that the absence of environmental rhythms leads to severe disruption of a wide variety of health parameters The good news is that we subsequently showed that these negative effects on health are reversible when the environmental light-dark cycle is restored."
The latest research also observed physiological changes due to artificial light exposure that were all indicative of "frailty" as is typically seen in people or animals as they age.
In June 2016, the latest New World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness report was published stating that one-third of the Earth’s population cannot see the Milky Way. For those of us living in North America, a staggering 80% of the U.S. population cannot clearly see the nighttime constellations. The excessive amount of light pollution in our homes, towns, and cities is affecting our health on a global scale.
To investigate the relationship between a loss of the light-dark cycle and disease, Meijer and colleagues, including Eliane Lucassen, exposed lab mice to constant ambient light while measuring several major health parameters. Analysis of the animals' brain activity showed that constant light exposure reduced the normal rhythmic patterns in the brain's central circadian pacemaker—the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN)—by 70 percent.
Interestingly, the disruption of organic daily light-dark patterns also triggered a reduction in the animals' skeletal muscle function making the mice physically weaker, as measured in standard tests of strength. Their bones also showed signs of deterioration. After constant artificial light exposure, the animals also entered a pro-inflammatory state normally observed only in the presence of pathogens or other harmful stimuli
The good news is that within two weeks of being returned to a standard light-dark cycle, the SCN neurons rapidly recovered their normal rhythm, and the animals' health problems were reversed.
"We used to think of light and darkness as harmless or neutral stimuli with respect to health," Meijer concluded. "We now realize this is not the case based on accumulating studies from laboratories all over the world, all pointing in the same direction. Possibly this is not surprising as life evolved under the constant pressure of the light-dark cycle. We seem to be optimized to live under these cycles, and the other side of the coin is that we are now affected by a lack of such cycles."
Conclusion: Types of Daily Light Exposure Matter . . . "Dim All the Lights!"
For optimal health, the latest research suggests that taking a two-pronged approach to keeping our circadian rhythms in sync should be a top priority. First, you should make an effort to be expose yourself to some type of ambient, natural sunlight every day. Second, you should try to avoid excessive artificial light throughout the day by avoiding windowless spaces (whenever possible), keeping house lights dim at night, and limiting electronic use at least an hour before bedtime.
Ideally
your daily waking and sleeping schedule should flow with seasonal fluctuations based on when the sun rises and sets in your region of the world or zip code. Of course, scheduling your life based on rising and setting of the sun is basically impossible for most of us living in a modern society, which doesn't make circadian rhythms a top priority. Maybe someday, increased awareness about the detriments of too much artificial light exposure will lead to policy changes that allow work schedules to ebb and flow with the seasons?
Luckily
there are a variety of easy things within the locus of your control that you can do here and now to limit light pollution in and around your home after dark. Creating simple habits such as turning off or dimming any lights in rooms that aren’t inhabited is a good place to start. Also, if you like bright light, laser-focusing or shielding high wattage light bulbs with ‘barn doors’ creates a spotlight effect that doesn’t illuminate or 'pollute' a broader area than necessary. All of these things can reduce light pollution and your exposure to unnecessary artificial light, especially after sundown.
Lastly
a May 2016 study found that smartphone use combined with social networking late at night is disrupting the natural circadian rhythms and sleep patterns for people of all ages and nationalities around the globe. Smartphone use during the day obviously leads to excessive screen time, but bedtime use of any digital technology exposes you to more artificial light, throws off your SCN, and exacerbates sleep disturbances. In a statement, lead author of the study Daniel Forger said,
"Across the board, it appears that society governs bedtime and one's internal clock governs wake time, and a later bedtime is linked to a loss of sleep. At the same time, we found a strong wake-time effect from users' biological clocks—not just their alarm clocks. These findings help to quantify the tug-of-war between solar and social timekeeping."
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201607/too-much-artificial-light-exposure-can-make-you-sick
Among other side effects, poor sleep hygiene reduces cognitive function and increases depression risks. Sleep hygiene is defined as, 'habits and practices that are conducive to sleeping well on a regular basis and having full daytime alertness.'
Why are LED Lights Bad for Your Eyes?
Light emitting diodes (LED) are made from crystals that may contain materials such as phosphorous in order to produce a distinct color. Overlapping colors, particularly the primary colors of red, blue and green, produce "white" light. No industry standard exists for brightness levels, but many manufacturers use the terms "super-bright" and "ultra-bright" to describe LED bulb intensity.
Warning
All LEDs do not require government-regulated eye safety labeling, but is is best not to stare into the beams at close range. TheLEDlight.com states that LED lights, whether white, blue, infrared or ultraviolet, are very bright and can be intense enough to injure human eyes.
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Photochemical Action
LED Lamps for Reading
Permanent eye damage can be caused when staring into high bright LEDs. Staring into an intense light, such as an LED, can have the same effect on the retina as using the sun's rays to make paper smoke or to start a fire using a magnifying glass. This is called photochemical reaction and the potential damage depends on the light intensity as well as the length of exposure.
To date, there are no scientific studies showing that reading by LED light causes damage to the eyes.
https://healthyliving.azcentral.com/why-are-led-lights-bad-for-your-eyes-12378478.html
The Effects of Black Lights on Vision
The eyes have a number of built-in defenses to protect vision.
Black lights emit UV radiation that can be harmful to the eyes and can affect vision over time. Although the eyes do have some built-in defenses, these weaken over time and some of the defenses themselves can affect vision.
Black lights emit UV-A radiation
and what is known as blue light. Elaine Kitchel, a Low Vision Research Associate, says that these light rays have been found to prevent the retinal cells from forming cytochrome oxidase. This chemical transports oxygen to the cells involved in vision. Without cytochrome oxidase and without oxygen, the cells of the eye begin to die. The lesions that occur may be scattered so it isn’t until many have formed that vision loss is noticed.
Limiting exposure to black lights and UV radiation is thought to limit possible harmful effects, but Kitchel explains that time has nothing to do with it. It’s not how long or how frequently your eyes are exposed to such light that matters. Researchers have found that retinal damage is a feature of exposure to these wavelengths, regardless of duration or frequency.
Temporary Effects
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety says
that UV radiation can result in conjunctivitis and photokeratitis. Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the membrane covering the whites of the eyes and the inside of the eyelids. Photokeratitis is inflammation of the cornea. The watering of the eyes that occurs because of these conditions can blur vision. Both of these are temporary conditions.
Long-Term Effects
Dan Roberts, Director of Macular Degeneration Support, says
that over the years, cellular debris buildup in the retina can make the eyes even more sensitive to damage from light exposure. Cataracts, the protein clumps in the lens of the eye, are actually the eyes' defense mechanism. This cloudy, pearl-like effect limits UV radiation damage to the retina but also increasingly limits vision.
Defenses
The eyes use a number of chemical defenses against UV radiation, says Dan Roberts. There are multiple built-in chemical defenses, and antioxidants in the diet such as vitamin C and E can also help to protect the eyes from black light. These defenses weaken with age, disease, neglect and poor nutrition.
As we age, the lens of the eye begins to yellow. This darkening of the lens helps filter black light and other UV radiation. Children, however, haven’t developed this protective yellowing and are more at risk for retinal damage from black light and UV radiation. Surgery to remove cataracts also removes the protective yellowing.
https://healthyliving.azcentral.com/the-effects-of-black-lights-on-vision-12346146.html
Best and Worst Light Sources for Your Eyes
A study published in 2011 in the American Journal of Public health found a 12% increase in eye diseases caused by exposure to bright, cool, fluorescent lights. Think about the spaces where you spend the majority of your time. When you’re making plans to furnish, decorate or build a home - at what point in the process do you consider the sources of light and their effects on your eyes?
What about your office space? After all, these places have purposes, whether it’s to rest and relax, or get to work and the last thing you’re focused on is lighting. The type of light you use and are exposed to most often affects not only the ambience, but also your eye health. So choosing the right lighting source requires careful consideration. Below we share the best and worst light sources for your eyes.
What to Avoid
Bright white and cool fluorescent tube bulbs and incandescent bulbs emit the most UV radiation and cause the most damage to your eyes. The problems noted in the 2011 study, mentioned above, were linked to this type of light source. Luckily, there are a variety of other options to choose from. Excessive exposure to blue light from sources, like smartphones, tablets and some LED lighting, has also been shown to cause damage according to the American Optometric Association. They also state that extended exposure to sunlight, especially in the teenage years and for those that don’t wear eye protection, can also lead to eye damage. What these sources of light have in common is that they are shorter wavelength light sources.
What to Choose
Alternative light sources are available that are not only safer for your eyes, but are also more energy efficient. Bulbs exist at different price points and for different uses. These options include the following:
Incandescent Warm Light Bulbs: These traditional bulbs provide a warmer light that produces less UV rays than bright white bulbs. They are usually the cheapest bulbs to buy, but they are not energy efficient, so they can cost a little more in the long term.
Full Spectrum Lighting
These are the most energy efficient bulbs, but they cost the most up front. They produce no UV rays. There are many myths regarding LED bulbs. One popular myth is that LED bulbs produce only “blue” light. However, LED bulbs are available in a range of colors and can provide warm light. Many people believe LED bulbs offer very little, if any, energy savings. However, studies show that they use less than half the energy of CFL bulbs and 1/8th to 1/10th the energy of conventional incandescent bulbs. Another common myth states that LED bulbs do not work with dimmers. This is also not true. A variety of dimmable LED bulbs are available at both Lowe’s and Home Depot.
“Full Spectrum” is actually a marketing term when applied to light bulbs. These type of bulbs simulate natural sunlight and provide a balance of brightness and contrast. Their manufacturers claim they enhance readability, color perception, and mood. Brands of full spectrum bulbs include BlueMax, Verilux, and OTT Light.
LED Bulbs
Lighting Tips for Healthy Eyes
Light reaches your eyes not only from light bulbs in your house, but also from the sun, computers, mobile phones, and tablets. Besides choosing the right bulbs, there are many easy steps you can take to support your eye health.
Increase use of natural light at work and at home. Most buildings and even homes have UV resistant glass to protect from the sun’s UV rays. Open the curtains and blinds and turn off the electric lights when appropriate.
When outdoors, protect your eyes from the sun by wearing sunglasses and hats. Choose polarized glasses with anti-reflective coating.
Avoid watching television in a dark room for extended periods of time. If you prefer to watch TV in the dark, use an ambient backlight behind your television. This helps prevent eye strain.
Use an e-reader to read digital books, like a Kindle Paperwhite, instead of a tablet or smartphone.
Keep your eyes moist. Remember to blink frequently and keep lubricating drops near your computer or on your desk.
To reduce glare use anti-glare screens with computers and tablets. Also, use darker, matte paint in the area or room around your computer. Choose glasses with polarized or tinted glass and an anti-reflective coating.
Adjust display settings on your computer monitor. Brightness should be close to the ambient setting, not brighter than the ambient lights. Adjust the “color temperature” to a warmer setting. Color temperature refers to the spectrum of visible light emitted. Cool or blue light has a short wavelength that causes more eyestrain. Lastly, adjust text size (zoom) and contrast to your comfort.
Rearrange your desk to that your monitor is 20 to 28 inches from your eyes and so that you look slightly down. Take frequent breaks when working on your computer. Try the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Consider “computer eyewear.” Computer glasses are different than standard glasses, they are designed for the precise distance between your eyes and the monitor and have anti-reflective coating and a light tint.
When using smartphones and tablets, hold them as far away as comfortably possible.
Protecting your eyes is important and can be easily achieved with a little planning. We would love to help you find more ways to promote eye health. Contact us with any questions about how to best protect your vision or to schedule an eye exam with one of our doctors.
Comments
This article is superbly written.
Traditional LED lights are the worst lighting sources for the eyes as well as overall human health. The fact that they emit high bio-active blue light should not be taken lightly. According to AMA, blue lights can cause irreparable damage to the eyes. Moreover, they are also notorious for unbalancing body's circadian rhythm which result in sleep irregularity and various sleep disorders. In fact, bad sleep cycle is the main cause of sleep disorders like insomnia. Last year, I replaced my office lighting with full spectrum lighting. Bought from SeniorLED, product quality and price was great. In few months, I started noticing health improvements such as better sleep, low fatigue, more energy, enhanced mood functions. For better insights, read this blog http://www.seniorled.com/sunlight-light-bulbs-tubes/. Keep writing.
https://www.horizonlaservision.com/blog/best-and-worst-light-sources-for-your-eyes
Health Effects of Artificial Light
Why is artificial light a concern?
Artificial light is composed of visible light as well as some ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) radiations, and there is a concern that the emission levels of some lamps could be harmful for the skin and the eyes. Both natural and artificial light can also disrupt the human body clock and the hormonal system, and this can cause health problems. The ultraviolet and the blue components of light have the greatest potential to cause harm.
Some people with diseases that make them sensitive to light claim that the energy-saving lamps (mainly compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light emitting diodes (LEDs)) that have been brought to replace incandescent lamps, make their symptoms worse and play a role in a wide range of diseases. They also argue that protective measures such as covering the lamps with a second glass envelope (which decreases the UV-emissions), are ineffective.
Overexposure to UV causes burns in the short term and, over long periods of time, contributes to the risk of developing skin cancer (melanoma) as well as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma, (BCC). According to a worst case scenario the highest measured UV emissions from lamps used in offices and schools, but not the very low emissions lamps used for household lighting, could add to the number of SCCs in the EU population.
Using some types of CFLs for long periods of time at close distances may expose users to levels of UV nearing the limits set to protect workers from skin and eye damage.
What effects on health have been observed?
Exposure to light at night while awake, such as in shift work, may be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and also cause sleep, gastrointestinal, mood and cardiovascular disorders. However, these effects are due disruption of the natural circadian rhythm, regardless of the type of illumination
Visible and IR radiations from artificial lights are unlikely to have any effects on health, unless they are extremely intense and used at close range.
There is no evidence that short-term exposure to lamps used normally in offices or at home would cause any damage to the eye. The blue component of visible light can harm the retina but this is only caused by accidental exposure to sunlight or to very high intensity artificial lights so is rare.
There is no consistent evidence that long-term exposure to blue light at lower intensity causes any damage to the retina.
Long-term exposure to UV from sunlight may damage the cornea and cause cataracts but using artificial light normally is very unlikely to have any similar effects.
Most people with skin conditions that make them sensitive to light find that sunlight brings on symptoms but some of the most sensitive patients also react to artificial light. The blue or UV component of light are particularly effective at aggravating the skin lesions of chronic actinic dermatitis and solar urticaria, and in the case of lupus erythematosus they make worse both the skin reactions and the disease itself. It is estimated that 1 in 3000 people in Europe is affected by such conditions. These patients should avoid light sources with UV emissions. For instance, if they use CFLs it would be better if they used those with a double envelope. An even better option for some people might be LEDs, because they do not emit UV.
What are the effects on people who have conditions that make them sensitive to light?
The effect of light on patients with eye conditions that are sensitive to light, varies widely from one person to another, depending on their genetic makeup. All patients with retinal dystrophy should wear special protective glasses that filter harmful wavelengths.
Short-term UV effects from artificial lighting on healthy people are thought to be negligible. It is not possible to assess long-term risks because there are no exposure data but one can make estimates considering a worst-case scenario. This assumes typical exposures at work and in school to CFLs with the highest level of UV radiation, although in practice, exposure to fluorescent lamps will be lower than this.
Modern CFLs are essentially flicker-free but there could be some residual flicker and, even if the flicker is not noticeable, it may still be perceived by the brain. There is no scientific evidence to evaluate whether the lights considered here have any effect on conditions such as Irlen-Meares syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis, fibromyalgia, dyspraxia, autism and HIV.
How and where are people exposed to artificial light?
Exposure to UV from artificial light is equivalent to one week vacation in a sunny destination
The annual dose of UV on the skin from the worst case scenario is equivalent to that from a one-week holiday in a sunny destination.
http://copublications.greenfacts.org/en/artificial-light/
Light Therapy Can Help Treat Depression Year-Round
Bright light therapy can help treat both seasonal and nonseasonal depression.
In "Blinded by the Light," Bruce Springsteen sings, "Mama always told me not to look into the sights of the sun. But Mama, that's where the fun is." In many ways, Springsteen is right. A new study reports that staring into an artificial source of bright light for 30 minutes every morning for eight weeks helped people with major depressive disorder (MDD) feel better.
Traditionally, bright light therapy has been considered a treatment for seasonal depression also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Until now, there has been limited evidence about the efficacy of light treatment as a way to reduce symptoms in those with nonseasonal depression. Recently, researchers in Canada reported that light therapy can, in fact, treat nonseasonal depression and improve the overall well-being of people suffering from clinical depression.
Bright Light Therapy Can Help Treat Depression Year-Round
According to the Canadian researchers, depression affects one in 20 people around the world. Depression is among the leading causes of disability globally. Although medications can be effective for treating depression, the researchers state that antidepressants, such as Prozac, only work for about 60% of the population.
The November 2015 study, “Efficacy of Bright Light Treatment, Fluoxetine, and the Combination in Patients With Nonseasonal Major Depressive Disorder,” was published online in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.
During the course of the five-year study, Dr. Raymond Lam and his colleagues from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute evaluated whether using a 10 000-lux fluorescent white light therapy improved the mood of depressed patients.
In this study, the researchers tested light therapy by itself and with or without the commonly prescribed antidepressant fluoxetine, which is sold under the brand name Prozac. In a press release, Lam said
"These results are very exciting because light therapy is inexpensive, easy to access and use, and comes with few side effects. It's important to find new treatments because our current therapies don't work for everyone. Patients can easily use light therapy along with other treatments such as antidepressants and psychotherapy. Our findings should help to improve the lives of people with depression.”
For this study
the light therapy involved 30 minutes of exposure to a light box soon after waking up every day for eight weeks. Some study participants were given placebo pills as well as placebo devices instead of the real light therapies or Prozac tablets. The researchers found that 10,000-lux light therapy helped a wide range of patients. The greatest benefit was observed in those who used antidepressants in conjunction with light therapy.
Previous research has found that exposure to natural light year-round helps to maintian a healthy mind and body. If you work in a windowless environment, it's important to seek exposure to natural light on lunch breaks, etc. Exposure to natural light in small doses is good for your physical and psychological well-being on many levels.
The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) relies on light exposure to stay synchronized with our environments and to regulate our circadian rhythms which affect the 24-hour cyclical function of every cell in the human body. Sunlight also facilitates Vitamin D production. Please use common sense in terms of protecting your eyes and skin from UVA/UVB exposure and sun damage.
Conclusion: Let the Sun Shine In!
Like millions of people, I have a tendency to get the winter blues. I’ve also had two MDD episodes in my life. As a personal testimonial, I can attest to the power of light therapy, psychotherapy, and lifestyle choices such as physical activity, pouring my heart into projects that I'm passionate about, and staying closely bonded with friends and family as tools for combating depression without the use of antidepressants.
Every winter, when the sun starts setting in the late afternoon, I know that I must stay vigilant about maintaining my mental and physical health. This includes using my Day-Light Classic 10,000 LUX Bright Light Therapy Lamp. Obviously, there are situations where using medication is necessary and extremely beneficial—especially when combined with other lifestyle choices and drug-free treatments such as light therapy.
I also use my light therapy session in the morning as a time to practice daily mindfulness meditation. Piggybacking a 30-minute session that combines light therapy and mindfulness meditation is a double whammy that helps keep my spirits buoyed in the wintertime. After reading this study, I'll be sure to use my light box year-round, if ever I feel a bout with a major depressive episode incubating.
Bright light therapy is an inexpensive non-pharmacological tool that people of all ages can use year-round to treat depression. If you are prone to seasonal or nonseasonal depression, the latest research indicates that using light therapy can be an effective drug-free treatment option. Light therapy can also be used in conjunction with medication, psychotherapy, and other lifestyle choices to help you avoid the winter doldrums and combat clinical depressive symptoms year-round.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201511/light-therapy-can-help-treat-depression-year-round
How To Mitigate The Effects Of Artificial Light And WiFi
The Awakened Body
Let's change the way we heal
I posted a few things of late on social media regarding the dangers of WiFi and the toxicity of blue light exposure at night. So now I want to counteract those, with a post on what I personally do to help mitigate these effects.
N.B. This isn’t a definitive list; simply what I’ve learned so far and what I have played with through trial and error. There are many other things you can do, but money has not permitted me yet. And I don’t wish to promote them fully if I haven’t tried them, especially when some are on the pricier side.
I also wish to say, that I do not share what I do in order to throw everyone into a fear frenzy and be terrified to even step outside the house. Even though anger is to be expected – it’s a huge element to ‘waking up’ and I actually see it as a vital part, to shake us into action afterwards – fear is actually the state within which they want us to stay. ‘Fearful’ and ‘confused as f**k’.
So, the pure power behind having no fear will actually catapult you to serious levels of health and happiness all by itself. I share these things not to instil fear – but to empower. Knowledge, when acquired – can be then applied – and can transform one’s life. We choose whether we fear something or not.
That is completely up to us. Let what I share arm you with info – and then embrace it, making changes as you go. (And I am always happy to help further if you inbox me. I’m not here to tell you what to do; but to join you on your journey. Misery loves company! Haha no, but really – I love helping others change their lives.) When I first started getting into all of this a few years ago; I was pissed. Also a tad afraid. “FFS, I can’t even turn on a light. Need to get rid of my TV. I can’t even use my PHONE. What is the effing point, I may as well give up. They’ve thought of everything.”
Then, after taking down the noose I was going to use, I kept researching. And learning. And discovered things here and there along the way and just slowly integrated them into my life. Money was usually tight – but I knew that all we can do is the best we can with what we have. My dream? To have a house that is basically one big amber-lit Faraday cage. But until then… These are things I implement:
You can buy high quality phone cases absorb the majority of what your phone emits; nothing, unfortunately, absorbs all. But every little bit helps. These are your best bet. (Sadly, as I found out after purchasing – those little chips of orgonite and other materials you can buy, to stick on your phones – barely do anything at all.) I recommend having a look at Safe Sleeve and DefenderShield. Both protect from over 95% of radiation stemming from your device.
If you have the money – or at least, can put some aside bit by bit – I heavily recommend BLUBlox. Their Sleep+ range block 100% of blue and green light; and yes, your prescription can be added to the lenses for a very reasonable price. BLUblox also offer clear lenses in the BluLite range, that block blue light and ease digital eye strain, for use during the day in front of computers and phones.
Place phone on airplane mode when you go to bed. Your alarm will still work. If you are concerned about not being contactable in emergencies – buy a corded landline phone. (Not a cordless – some of those can harm more than mobile phone, as the search signal stays at a constant level.) Our sleep is our phase of rejuvenation and regrowth. Pure healing. When our bodies are hit with these things as we sleep, it can impair that growth. So, it’s good to keep them off for sleep.
Phones – on iPhones, activate the Night Shift mode (Settings / Display & Brightness / Night Shift / Scheduled / then choose your preferred settings). Androids – I strongly recommend Twilight. The free version alone gives you plent of settings to play with until you find your preferred tint and level of display brightness.
Television – avoid use altogether if you can, after sundown. The blue light they emit is hideous and will greatly affect sleep patterns and melatonin levels. But again, place orgonite or shungite next to/behind the screen. (They also emit war, fear, hatred, violence, idiocy and division, so just throw the whole TV out, really…. 😉 )
On top of this, they have a Kids range for children. Do you have troubles with your children not winding down before bed? BLUblox glasses for your little ones will be of huge assistance. I know it can be hard to forbid television and smart device use with kids these days, which is why purchasing blue light blocking glasses for them will be a purchase you will not regret. Think BLUblox have cornered all the markets?
Not yet! They also introduced a range called SummerGLO, a powerful way to overcome depression, anxiety and seasonal affective disorder. The yellow lens depicts a sunny summer’s day, offering mood benefits whilst blue light blocking technology blocks 100% of artificial blue light from 400nm – 450nm, the frequency known to contribute to depression.
Distance. Distance is your best friend when it comes to phones and Wifi. Don’t keep your phone on you, unless it’s on airplane mode. ‘3 feet minimum’ is what I keep seeing in my research travels. Keep your WiFi router in the area farthest from the bedrooms and turn it off every night. You can buy timers to attach to some routers, that will automatically do it for you.
Use corded earpieces to make calls. (DO NOT use Bluetooth headsets; that travels directly into your brain, just like holding the phone to your head. Bluetooth radiation has actually been studied even less than mobile phone radiation.) The few times I have had to place my phone against my ear for a call, I have a headache within a couple of minutes and my ear is burning hot.
Gaming consoles – unplug everything. They send out waves even when ‘off’. So, unplugging them is best.
Laptops/PC’s – For computer use, I cannot recommend Iris enough. I was once a promoter of f.lux, however, f.lux simply does not offer as many control options as Iris. f.lux is also now unable to be downloaded on an iPhone or iPad unless the device is jailbroken first. Iris also enables you to adjust the flicker rate of your screen, along with many inversion colour options, you can set the program to your geographic sunrise/sunset times, dim the top, bottom and sides of the screen, and many other tools I am still playing around with. I almost never turn Iris off, it usually stays in a light amber mode during the day. Bright white light just offends my eyes now… If you wish to purchase Iris, feel free to use my affiliate link; you will receive 10% off your purchase.
You can buy mats that sit under the laptop, to absorb the radiation. You can also place orgonite and/or shungite on or next to the laptop, when in use. And if you are just watching a movie that doesn’t involve streaming – switch it to airplane mode. And do not keep it on your lap when in use.
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (side note – this is a classic movie) – switch to airplane mode. The last place you want those signals bouncing around is when you’re sitting within a heap of metal.
The effects of salt lamps can be easily read online; but I do remember a story, shared with me by my good friends at my favourite metaphysical shop. A regular customer was extremely sensitive to EMF (electromagnetic frequencies) and he would carry an EMF reader with him. This customer watched his reader as he walked down the street, experiencing the usual high readings due to the power lines, etc. He then stepped into the metaphys store, where which the power box stood just inside on the wall- the reading sky rocketed. He then walked over to the salt lamps section – and the reading plummeted. Make of that what you will. Plus, salt lamps are just so damn soothing to look at…
Salt lamps – affordable and easy and effective. I have two 15kg(ish) lamps in my bedroom and a bigger 25kg(ish) lamp in the open space that is our lounge/kitchen/dining (the bigger the space, the bigger the salt lamp should be). The two in my bedroom provide enough light at night to see and read, etc. But you can always buy the 40w oven globes for them, instead of the standard 15w they come with. You can also buy red coloured globes for them online, that really enhance the amber effect.
Hope some of this helps! And also – ground yourself for 15-20 minutes daily, or as often as you can. Bare feet on land. Swim or place feet in water at beach/creek/lake, etc. Sit with your back under a tree. Take a hike through bush/forest. Stand near or under a waterfall. Earth will strongly assist you in shedding that EMF build-up.
I also wish to say, that I do not share what I do in order to throw everyone into a fear frenzy and be terrified to even step outside the house. Even though anger is to be expected – it’s a huge element to ‘waking up’ and I actually see it as a vital part, to shake us into action afterwards – fear is actually the state within which they want us to stay. ‘Fearful’ and ‘confused as f**k’.
If you have any questions or wish to work with me as you progress on your journey, please feel free to contact me via my blog site Contact page, Facebook or Instagram.
https://theawakenedbody333.wordpress.com/2018/03/09/how-to-mitigate-the-effects-of-artificial-light-and-wifi/
I posted a few things of late on social media regarding the dangers of WiFi and the toxicity of blue light exposure at night. So now I want to counteract those, with a post on what I personally do to help mitigate these effects.
How To Mitigate The Effects Of Artificial Light And WiFi
The Awakened Body
Let's change the way we heal
N.B. This isn’t a definitive list; simply what I’ve learned so far and what I have played with through trial and error. There are many other things you can do, but money has not permitted me yet. And I don’t wish to promote them fully if I haven’t tried them, especially when some are on the pricier side.
Then, after taking down the noose I was going to use, I kept researching. And learning. And discovered things here and there along the way and just slowly integrated them into my life. Money was usually tight – but I knew that all we can do is the best we can with what we have. My dream? To have a house that is basically one big amber-lit Faraday cage. But until then… These are things I implement:
So, the pure power behind having no fear will actually catapult you to serious levels of health and happiness all by itself. I share these things not to instil fear – but to empower. Knowledge, when acquired – can be then applied – and can transform one’s life. We choose whether we fear something or not.
That is completely up to us. Let what I share arm you with info – and then embrace it, making changes as you go. (And I am always happy to help further if you inbox me. I’m not here to tell you what to do; but to join you on your journey. Misery loves company! Haha no, but really – I love helping others change their lives.) When I first started getting into all of this a few years ago; I was pissed. Also a tad afraid. “FFS, I can’t even turn on a light. Need to get rid of my TV. I can’t even use my PHONE. What is the effing point, I may as well give up. They’ve thought of everything.”
Phones – on iPhones, activate the Night Shift mode (Settings / Display & Brightness / Night Shift / Scheduled / then choose your preferred settings). Androids – I strongly recommend Twilight. The free version alone gives you plent of settings to play with until you find your preferred tint and level of display brightness.
You can buy high quality phone cases absorb the majority of what your phone emits; nothing, unfortunately, absorbs all. But every little bit helps. These are your best bet. (Sadly, as I found out after purchasing – those little chips of orgonite and other materials you can buy, to stick on your phones – barely do anything at all.) I recommend having a look at Safe Sleeve and DefenderShield. Both protect from over 95% of radiation stemming from your device.
Place phone on airplane mode when you go to bed. Your alarm will still work. If you are concerned about not being contactable in emergencies – buy a corded landline phone. (Not a cordless – some of those can harm more than mobile phone, as the search signal stays at a constant level.) Our sleep is our phase of rejuvenation and regrowth. Pure healing. When our bodies are hit with these things as we sleep, it can impair that growth. So, it’s good to keep them off for sleep.
If you have the money – or at least, can put some aside bit by bit – I heavily recommend BLUBlox. Their Sleep+ range block 100% of blue and green light; and yes, your prescription can be added to the lenses for a very reasonable price. BLUblox also offer clear lenses in the BluLite range, that block blue light and ease digital eye strain, for use during the day in front of computers and phones.
Use corded earpieces to make calls. (DO NOT use Bluetooth headsets; that travels directly into your brain, just like holding the phone to your head. Bluetooth radiation has actually been studied even less than mobile phone radiation.) The few times I have had to place my phone against my ear for a call, I have a headache within a couple of minutes and my ear is burning hot.
On top of this, they have a Kids range for children. Do you have troubles with your children not winding down before bed? BLUblox glasses for your little ones will be of huge assistance. I know it can be hard to forbid television and smart device use with kids these days, which is why purchasing blue light blocking glasses for them will be a purchase you will not regret. Think BLUblox have cornered all the markets?
Not yet! They also introduced a range called SummerGLO, a powerful way to overcome depression, anxiety and seasonal affective disorder. The yellow lens depicts a sunny summer’s day, offering mood benefits whilst blue light blocking technology blocks 100% of artificial blue light from 400nm – 450nm, the frequency known to contribute to depression.
Gaming consoles – unplug everything. They send out waves even when ‘off’. So, unplugging them is best.
Distance. Distance is your best friend when it comes to phones and Wifi. Don’t keep your phone on you, unless it’s on airplane mode. ‘3 feet minimum’ is what I keep seeing in my research travels. Keep your WiFi router in the area farthest from the bedrooms and turn it off every night. You can buy timers to attach to some routers, that will automatically do it for you.
Television – avoid use altogether if you can, after sundown. The blue light they emit is hideous and will greatly affect sleep patterns and melatonin levels. But again, place orgonite or shungite next to/behind the screen. (They also emit war, fear, hatred, violence, idiocy and division, so just throw the whole TV out, really…. 😉 )
Laptops/PC’s – For computer use, I cannot recommend Iris enough. I was once a promoter of f.lux, however, f.lux simply does not offer as many control options as Iris. f.lux is also now unable to be downloaded on an iPhone or iPad unless the device is jailbroken first. Iris also enables you to adjust the flicker rate of your screen, along with many inversion colour options, you can set the program to your geographic sunrise/sunset times, dim the top, bottom and sides of the screen, and many other tools I am still playing around with. I almost never turn Iris off, it usually stays in a light amber mode during the day. Bright white light just offends my eyes now… If you wish to purchase Iris, feel free to use my affiliate link; you will receive 10% off your purchase.
You can buy mats that sit under the laptop, to absorb the radiation. You can also place orgonite and/or shungite on or next to the laptop, when in use. And if you are just watching a movie that doesn’t involve streaming – switch it to airplane mode. And do not keep it on your lap when in use.
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (side note – this is a classic movie) – switch to airplane mode. The last place you want those signals bouncing around is when you’re sitting within a heap of metal.
The effects of salt lamps can be easily read online; but I do remember a story, shared with me by my good friends at my favourite metaphysical shop. A regular customer was extremely sensitive to EMF (electromagnetic frequencies) and he would carry an EMF reader with him. This customer watched his reader as he walked down the street, experiencing the usual high readings due to the power lines, etc. He then stepped into the metaphys store, where which the power box stood just inside on the wall- the reading sky rocketed. He then walked over to the salt lamps section – and the reading plummeted. Make of that what you will. Plus, salt lamps are just so damn soothing to look at…
Salt lamps – affordable and easy and effective. I have two 15kg(ish) lamps in my bedroom and a bigger 25kg(ish) lamp in the open space that is our lounge/kitchen/dining (the bigger the space, the bigger the salt lamp should be). The two in my bedroom provide enough light at night to see and read, etc. But you can always buy the 40w oven globes for them, instead of the standard 15w they come with. You can also buy red coloured globes for them online, that really enhance the amber effect.
Hope some of this helps! And also – ground yourself for 15-20 minutes daily, or as often as you can. Bare feet on land. Swim or place feet in water at beach/creek/lake, etc. Sit with your back under a tree. Take a hike through bush/forest. Stand near or under a waterfall. Earth will strongly assist you in shedding that EMF build-up.
https://theawakenedbody333.wordpress.com/2018/03/09/how-to-mitigate-the-effects-of-artificial-light-and-wifi/
If you have any questions or wish to work with me as you progress on your journey, please feel free to contact me via my blog site Contact page, Facebook or Instagram.
LED lights safer, more effective in producing Vitamin D3 than sunlight
Light from RayVio's 293nm ultraviolet (UV) LED is more efficient than sunlight at producing vitamin D3 in skin samples, research shows.
Research published in Scientific Reports shows that light from RayVio's 293nm ultraviolet (UV) LED is more efficient than sunlight at producing vitamin D3 in skin samples. Tyler Kalajian and his research team, led by Dr. Michael F. Holick, Ph.D., M.D., and supported by Boston University School of Medicine and a Boston University Ignition Award, found that skin samples exposed to RayVio's UV LED for just 0.52 minutes produced more than twice as much vitamin D3 as samples exposed to 32.5 minutes of sunlight.
"We tested ultraviolet LEDs from different sources and at different wavelengths. RayVio's 293nm LED showed the most significant potential for vitamin D3 production in the shortest amount of time," said Dr. Holick, a Professor of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics at Boston University School of Medicine, and endocrinologist at Boston Medical Center. "This study will lead to a new generation of technology that can be labeled as photopharmacology in which the use of LEDs with targeted wavelengths can cause specific biologic effects in human skin to help treat and prevent chronic illnesses."
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with osteoporosis, rickets and other metabolic bone diseases and is more prevalent in northern and southern latitudes where sunlight is limited for a significant part of the year. This device for making vitamin D is ideally suited for patients with fat malabsorption syndromes including inflammatory bowel disease and gastric bypass surgery.
"The potential of digital UV technology for phototherapy is enormous," said Dr. Robert C. Walker, RayVio's CEO. "Dr. Holick's research with our UVB LEDs demonstrates the potential for new applications that can potentially improve and save hundreds of thousands of lives.
The research shows that RayVio's UV LEDs could be used for treating patients that are vitamin D deficient. A vitamin D3 producing UV LED device could be used on skin areas that experience less exposure to sunlight such as upper legs and arms and abdomen and back thus minimizing risk for developing non-melanoma skin cancer. The UV LED device also emits a much narrower band of UVB light and thereby decreasing likelihood of skin damage that can occur when the skin is exposed to higher wavelengths of UV radiation
About Vitamin D3 Two forms of vitamin D are important to humans: vitamin D2 produced by plants, yeast and mushrooms, and vitamin D3 produced by skin when exposed to sunlight or the appropriate wavelength of ultraviolet light.
About Vitamin D3 Two forms of vitamin D are important to humans: vitamin D2 produced by plants, yeast and mushrooms, and vitamin D3 produced by skin when exposed to sunlight or the appropriate wavelength of ultraviolet light.
U.S. alone, seventy-five percent of teens and adults are vitamin D deficient. Thanks to the work of the research team and the pioneering work of the Boston University Photonics Center on UV LEDs, we may soon see innovative treatment options like simple integration with a wearable device could aid millions of people."
"The potential of digital UV technology for phototherapy is enormous," said Dr. Robert C. Walker, RayVio's CEO. "Dr. Holick's research with our UVB LEDs demonstrates the potential for new applications that can potentially improve and save hundreds of thousands of lives.
U.S. alone, seventy-five percent of teens and adults are vitamin D deficient. Thanks to the work of the research team and the pioneering work of the Boston University Photonics Center on UV LEDs, we may soon see innovative treatment options like simple integration with a wearable device could aid millions of people."
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170913193101.htm
What Plants Will Grow Under a White and Blue LED?
Light-emitting diode lights show promise as grow lights for indoor plants. The small size of LEDs, their efficient use of energy and lack of heat make them particularly useful in small or enclosed areas. Most plants need broad-spectrum light for optimal growth. Blue and white light LEDs benefit foliage houseplants and can be combined with red lights to provide a broad-spectrum environment.
Blue LED Lights
Blue light is a specific light wavelength that is needed by plants for photosynthesis and growth and is ideal for use on seedlings and young plants. Blue LEDs are far more efficient than they were a few years ago and are useful in grow light systems in combination with other light wavelengths. Plants that benefit the most from blue light are green, leafy plants that don't bloom, such as salad vegetables and leafy
White Light for Plants
White LEDs are also available, but they are just blue LEDs with a phosphor coating to make them look white, and they are less efficient than single-wave blue LEDs. White light that is provided by fluorescent bulbs is a broad-spectrum light that incorporates different colors that are useful for plants. This is why an ordinary fluorescent light is one of the best lights to use for grow lights. By contrast, white LEDs do not provide a broad-spectrum light.
Red Light Wave Lengths
Red light is needed by plants to induce flowering and fruiting. Houseplants that are grown for their blooms, such as African violets (Saintpaulia spp.) and begonias (Rieger begonias), or fruiting plants such as tomatoes (Lycopersicon spp.) or peppers (Capsicum spp.) must have red light. However, these plants also need a certain amount of supplemental blue light as well to stimulate healthy growth. These plants would not perform as expected if grown under solely blue or white LEDs.
The Best Light for Indoor Plants
Most plants use a combination of red and blue light, so the best light for indoor plants of all types combines a broad-spectrum light that includes red and blue light. Different plants respond to different ratios of red and blue light at different phases of their development. Studies done by NASA showed that salad crops such as lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and radishes (Raphanus sativus) and other plants that were grown under red light or blue light alone did not grow as well and were more susceptible to disease than those that grew in a combination of red and blue light.
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/plants-grow-under-white-blue-led-99816.html
