WHOOP Podcast

Exploring the Link Between Light and Health with Dr. Roger Seheult

Mar 26, 2025

Join Dr. Roger Seheult, a quadruple board-certified physician and co-founder of MedCram, as he explores the fascinating connection between light and health. He delves into how light exposure affects our circadian rhythms, brain function, and even mood. Dr. Seheult emphasizes the importance of natural light and outdoor time for enhancing wellbeing. He also discusses melatonin's role in longevity, the significance of sleep timing, and how certain foods may disrupt our circadian health. Discover practical tips to improve your sleep quality and overall wellness!

32:41

Episode guests

Roger Seheult, MD

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Light exposure significantly influences circadian rhythms and mood, necessitating morning sunlight and reduced artificial light at night for better health.

Melatonin plays a crucial role in cellular health and longevity, underscoring the importance of maximizing its production through evening darkness.

Deep dives

Impact of Modern Life on Sleep

The current lifestyle is significantly detrimental to sleep quality, primarily due to early rising and late-night commitments. Many individuals struggle with demanding schedules that hinder their ability to obtain sufficient restorative sleep, particularly crucial slow-wave sleep, which is essential for physical rejuvenation. The need to commute from cheaper housing to higher-cost workplaces further compounds the issue, resulting in sleep deprivation. Consequently, this modern way of living not only affects sleep but overall health, driving society away from optimal well-being.

Intro

3min

The Power of Light Timing

11min

The Struggle for Healthy Sleep in the Modern World

3min

The Power of Sleep and Timing

12min

The Eight Pillars of Health and Wellness

2min

Purposeful Living: The Anchor of Daily Behavior

2min

On the third installment of our Longevity Series, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance Principal Scientist, Dr. Kristen Holmes, sits down with Dr. Roger Seheult. Dr. Roger Seheult is an Associate Clinical Professor at University of California, Riverside School of Medicine and Assistant Clinical Professor at the School of Medicine and Allied Health at Loma Linda University. Dr. Seheult is a critical care physician, practicing in Beaumont, California and is a quadruple board-certified doctor of internal medicine, pulmonary disease, critical care medicine, and sleep medicine. He focuses on promoting healthy lifestyles and making medical concepts more understandable to everyone. He actively lectures at schools, hospitals, and across media outlets.

Dr. Seheult is the co-founder of MedCram, founded early in the pandemic to educate people world-wide about the spread of viruses. MedCram is now an online educational company that aims to clear up misconceptions and provide understandable medical videos for all.

Dr. Holmes and Dr. Seheult discuss the effect of light on circadian rhythm (00:42), how light and timing affects brain circuitry and mood (02:42), melatonin’s important role in longevity (05:31), why we need to be outdoors more (09:58), the importance of sleep-wake timing (14:46), slow-wave sleep and growth hormones (16:31). Dr. Seheult illustrates the foods that may be impacting your circadian health (18:42) and practical sleep changes that will help improve your sleep quality (24:25), the 8 pillars of sleep (25:15) and the importance of living for purpose (30:32).

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