Financial Sense Newshour Red, Blue, and You: How Light Influences Sleep and Metabolism
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Nov 11, 2025 In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Mike Haga, a physician specializing in metabolic health and photobiomodulation, explores how light impacts sleep and metabolism. He discusses the detrimental effects of modern LEDs on our circadian rhythms and explains how blue light can slow metabolic rates. Dr. Haga highlights the benefits of red light for mitochondrial health and shares practical tips for better home lighting. From the advantages of incandescent bulbs to the significance of daily sunlight, this discussion shines a light on optimizing our well-being.
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Indoor Light Mismatches Natural Day–Night Cycle
- Modern indoor lighting gives far less full-spectrum daytime light while providing far more nighttime brightness than natural conditions.
- This mismatch tricks human circadian rhythms and disrupts sleep and metabolism.
Light Spectrum Directly Affects Mitochondria
- Light spectrum acutely changes mitochondrial function: red boosts metabolism while blue suppresses it.
- Glenn Jeffrey's experiments showed red light reduced glucose spikes and blue light lowered CO2 output by ~30%, slowing metabolism.
Incandescents Provided Useful Red/IR Light
- Incandescent bulbs emit substantial red and infrared (thermal) light that benefits biology but are being phased out for energy reasons.
- Losing these bulbs reduces everyday regenerative red/infrared exposure in homes.
