Using Red Light to Improve Metabolism & the Harmful Effects of LEDs | Dr. Glen Jeffery

This section of the episode develops the topic through the following source points: Andrew Huberman: Let's talk about indoor lighting, because I am very concerned about the amount of short-wavelength light that people are exposed to nowadays, especially kids. Glen Jeffery: Mm-hmm. This is an issue on the same level as asbestos. This is a public health issue, and it's big. And I think it's one of the reasons why I'm really happy to come here and talk, because it's time to talk. When we use LEDs, the light found in LEDs, when we use them, certainly, when we use them on the retina looking at mice, we can watch the mitochondria gently go downhill. They're far less responsive. Their membrane potentials are coming down. The mitochondria are not breathing very well. Can watch that in real-time. Andrew Huberman: Welcome to the Huberman Lab podcast, where we discuss science and science-based tools for everyday life. I'm Andrew Huberman, and I'm a professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. My guest today is Dr. Glen Jeffery, a professor of neuroscience at University College London. In today's episode, we discuss how you can use light, in particular red, near-infrared, and infrared light, to improve your health, and no, not just by getting sunlight, although we do talk about sunlight. Dr. Jeffery's lab has discovered that certain wavelengths or colors of light can be used to improve your skin, your eyesight, even your blood sugar regulation and metabolism. Dr. Jeffery explains how light is absorbed by the water in your mitochondria, the energy-producing organelles within your cells, to allow them to function better by producing more ATP. He also explains how long-wavelength light, things like red light, can be protective against mitochondrial damage caused by excessive exposure to things like LED bulbs and screens, which of course we are all exposed to pretty much all day long nowadays, and simple, inexpensive, and even zero-cost ways that you can get long-wavelength light exposure, and again, not just by getting more sunlight. He explains that long-wavelength light can actually pass into and through your entire body, and that it scatters when inside you. Now, that might sound scary, but it's actually a great thing for your health, because that's how long-wavelength light can improve the health of all your organs, by entering your body and supporting your mitochondria. Believe it or not, certain wavelengths of light can actually pass through your skull into your brain and help promote brain health. During today's episode, we also discuss new findings that correlate the amount of sunlight you're exposed to with longevity. Those are very surprising findings, but they're important. Also, why everyone needs some UV light exposure. And we discuss whether it's important to close your eyes when using red light devices or in red light saunas, and how best to apply red light and things like infrared light in order to derive maximum health benefits. Today, you're going to learn from one of the greats in neuroscience as to how to use light to improve the health and longevity of any and every tissue in your body, and the mechanisms for how that works. Before we begin, I'd like to emphasize that this podcast is separate from my teaching and research roles at Stanford.