Bright Days, Dark Nights: How Light Controls Your Health | Dr. Sean Cain

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Sean Cain, PhD, a Harvard Medical School-trained expert in the impact of light on the human circadian system, a Matthew Flinders Professor at Flinders University, and Co-Founder and CEO of Circadian Health Innovations. Today, he discusses how people differ more than fiftyfold in how sensitive their circadian systems are to evening light, that nearly half of modern homes are bright enough at night to suppress melatonin by fifty percent, and that most of us have no conscious awareness of any of it. We discuss the large observational studies he and his team have published linking bright days and dark nights to depression, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality, as well as his research on impaired light sensitivity in depression and why the amplitude of your circadian rhythm may matter more than its timing. We also discuss MiEye, the wearable light sensor his team developed, and practical changes to home and daytime lighting that anyone can make tonight.CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SHOWNOTESThis includes all other resourcesSponsor: Brighter Lamphttps://getbrighter.com/?sjram=P2jrTbowzJOdCode: JONATHANJ   Subscribe to the newsletter: https://jonathanjarecki.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chipsTimestamps 00:00 Intro03:54 Dr. Sean Cain04:42 Dr. Cain's Love for Science and Research10:25 Understanding Circadian Rhythms: Anatomy and Function10:56 Setting the stage: Circadian Biology, Rhythms, SCN, ipRGCs16:20 Light, Circadian Entrainment, Mechanisms19:57 High Sensitivity and Interindividual Variability in the Response of the Circadian of the Human Circa22:02 Individual Sensitivity to Light and Circadian Disruption27:22 Home Lighting, Sunset, LEDs, Fluorescents, Incandescents27:37 Home Lighting and Its Effects on Circadian Health33:46 Tools: circadian friendly home lighting39:24 Population health outcomes; UK BioBank39:29 Psychiatric Disorders47:52 SPONSOR: Brighter Lamp49:34 The Link Between Light Exposure and Mental Health01:04:18 Light Exposure and Longevity: Key Findings01:09:45 The Importance of Daylight for Health01:17:41 Understanding Circadian Rhythms and Light Exposure01:17:52 The Impact of Light on Mood and Self-Perception01:23:39 Innovations in Circadian Health: My Eye Device01:34:15 Jet Lag Management and the Jet Lag App01:39:09 Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Social Media, Substack Newsletter