Natural Society | August 31 2012
Do you have a habit of falling asleep with the television on or with the lamp shining on your face? Research shows even a little bit of light at night can have terribly negative effects on your health. By cutting out as much light as possible, you could reduce your chances of depression, obesity, diabetes, and even cancer. Sounds like a convincing argument to stop sleeping with the light on.
Stop Sleeping with the Light On
According to Mercola, numerous studies support the need for complete darkness when we sleep. It encourages the body’s natural rhythms and reduces the chances of illness.
Much of this has to do with the production of melatonin, a hormone responsible for sleep and wake patterns, and mood regulation. Your body produces melatonin at night and especially after a day where you were exposed to bright light, like sunlight. Decreased production of melatonin, whether due to lack of sunlight exposure or too much light in the evening hours has been related to depression especially in SAD, or seasonal affective disorder.