We often hear that it's all a matter of willpower.
But there are mechanisms in our bodies, beyond our control, that have dramatic impacts on our daily lives. This is particularly the case with the circadian cycle.
This cycle governs our physical and mental abilities, influences our mood, and has the power, if not respected, to completely destabilize our physiology.
Circa-what ?
In Latin, "circa" means around and "dien" means day. It is a 24-hour cycle that punctuates our days and governs the secretion of some of our hormones.
But how does our body regulate this cycle? Well , simply by light.
So it's no wonder that it naturally follows the cycle of the sun.
Natural light signals to our body when is the most appropriate time to sleep and to be awake. It evolves over time, follows the seasons and will constantly adapt to environmental conditions. This is why it lengthens in summer and shortens in winter in northern hemisphere countries that experience an alternation of seasons.
Unfortunately, nowadays, however, it is not uncommon for this cycle to be completely disrupted. The consequences on our health are dramatic.
Because of our modern lifestyles, it is common to see as clearly at night as during the day and, paradoxically, we are less and less exposed to the sun during the day.
This disruption specifically is responsible for many modern pathologies such as sleep disorders, eye disorders and even some migraines.
A true internal clock
According to a Harvard study, we all have slightly different circadian rhythms . This is because the rhythm of a person who stays up late is slightly longer than average.
Dr. Charles Czeisler of Harvard Medical School showed in 1981 that daylight keeps a person's internal clock aligned with the environment.
Some other studies from Harvard hypothesized a link between exposure to light at night (night work) and diabetes, heart disease or even obesity.
One such study involved gradually unbalancing the circadian rhythm of 10 people. Their blood sugar levels then rose, which put them in a state of pre-diabetes, while their levels of leptin, the hormone that leaves a person feeling full after a meal, had decreased.
How to observe the circadian rhythm?
Not all lights have the same impact
No. 1: Get enough white light at the beginning and middle of the day
We often talk about the harmful impacts of blue light, but the reality is that many of us don't get enough of it throughout the day.
Don't be afraid to expose yourself to white lights during the day, they allow you to reset the cycle to 0, improve sleep and energy over 24 hours.
No. 2: Reduce white light as much as possible after sunset
It goes without saying that, on the other hand, exposing oneself to lights that are close to that of the sun, after it has set, sends the opposite signal to the body.
Opt for yellow lights in the evening.
N°3: Choose dim lights 1 to 2 hours before bedtime
The light receptors responsible for the secretion of melatonin, which we mentioned earlier, are located in the upper part of the eye, so light close to the ground has less influence on the circadian cycle, just as the position of the sun in the sky before it sets.
Make Your Artificial Lighting an Ally
As you can see, our artificial lighting has for many years ignored the fundamental principles of our physiology. Certainly, this oversight has contributed to the epidemics of sleep disorders and ophthalmic problems today.
That's why we've developed the optimal bulb!
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