Not Too Bright by Meryl Davids Landau, Prevention Magazine, January 2026, pp 48-54.
Can too much light be bad for you? Historically when it was night it was dark, when it was day it was bright. This is no longer reality as we can have light during the night, and poor light during the day as we are indoors. Light effect melatonin. Melatonin is the sleep hormone, but more than that it attaches to every cell in the body influencing health. Disruption to melatonin can have health repercussions. Today's artificial light tends to be blue light, which effects the secretion of melatonin. A lack of darkness can lead to diabetes and cancer and cardiovascular issues.
You can do things to make sure your melatonin is effective. Be in the sun during the day so the contrast between light and dark is greater, avoid screens before bed. Make sure there is no light in your sleeping area, switch out blue light, don't leave light on, don't turn on lights when you go to the restroom at night. A night light that reacts to movement is better.
