Using Light (Sunlight, Blue Light & Red Light) to Optimize Health

About this video

Huberman discusses using sunlight, blue light and red light to optimise skin health, wound healing, hormone balance, sleep, alertness, mood and other outcomes, noting light can be translated into electrical and hormone signals and even change gene expression. He rejects the idea that phototherapy is pseudoscience, noting the 1903 Nobel Prize to Niels Finsen for phototherapy for lupus. Huberman describes Dr. Glen Jeffery’s work at University College London, in which he says brief red light exposure early in the day, just one to three minutes a few times per week, offset much age-related vision loss in people 40 years or older by helping retinal cells replenish ATP production. On sunlight and hormones, Huberman describes a protocol idea of two to three exposures per week of 20 to 30 minutes of sunlight on as much skin as reasonably possible, while prioritising avoidance of sunburn and taking skin cancer risk seriously.

Key takeaways

• Huberman describes red light early in the day offsetting age-related vision loss in Dr. Jeffery’s studies.
• Huberman notes phototherapy was recognised by a Nobel Prize in 1903 for treating lupus.
• Huberman describes sunlight exposure protocols aimed at testosterone, estrogen and mood in research he reviews.
• Huberman warns to prioritise avoiding sunburn and take skin cancer risk seriously.
• Huberman explains light can alter hormone signals and gene expression across the lifespan.

Episode details: published April 18, 2022 · 1.3M views · 2:23:43 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. The science and protocols described are Andrew Huberman’s, presented for education — not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before changing your own health practices.

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