Caitlin Hunter – Naturopath
Blue light exposure is the light emitted by electronic devices such as televisions, computers, and smartphones. This can affect the quality of our sleep as blue light exposure suppresses the secretion of melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone which is produced by the pineal gland and regulates our circadian rhythm (day & night), ultimately assisting us to sleep.
Melatonin can also regulate body temperature, blood glucose, body weight and some hormones. To fall asleep, we need to calm our nervous system down, which in today’s fast paced environment is becoming increasingly difficult. Our nervous systems are thrown into overdrive and sleep disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent. My top recommendations for ensuring you are getting not only adequate sleep, but good quality sleep is to remove blue lights one hour prior to bedtime. If you wake during the night don’t check your phone or computer. Implementing this simple practice every night reduces exposure and restores your circadian rhythm, resulting in a more restful sleep.