Tag Archives: biohacking

Bhc presents spagyric Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha comes from the root of the plant Withania somnifera. Ashwagandha has been used traditionally in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Ashwagandha is often referred to as Indian ginseng. My first contact with this herb was approximately 8 years ago when I read about its possible effects in increasing testosterone. Since then I have studied this herb more and have included it in my stack of must have herbs.

We at biohacking collective have decided to make our own version and this is something really unique. As with our other tinctures this is a spagyrical extraction done in sub atmospheric conditions. The low pressure reduces the demand of heat and keeps all the valuable plant compounds from being destroyed in the process. The next step in this process includes the reintroduction of the purified minerals from the ash of the plant. This makes this tincture extra bio available and potent. The tincture is also nano emulsified with ultrasonic technology to make it even more easily accessible to the body.

So which are the main benefits of ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha has adaptogenic properties this means that it can modulate and help regulate certain processes in the body. The main thing for me when I look at the literature seems to be the reduction in stress by lowering cortisol levels in the blood (1). Cortisol acts as an antagonist to testosterone so decreased cortisol will help keeping the testosterone levels high.

Ashwagandha also seems to help with other stress markers and I found this interesting study showing that it could help against stress related male infertility (2).

There is also studies that shows that Ashwagandha could help with increasing muscle strength (2). In this study 57 males were included in the age between 18-50. Subjects in the treatment group consumed 300 mg of ashwagandha root extract twice daily, while the control group consumed starch placebos. The groups were using resistance exercise for 8 weeks and then the results were measured. And strength had increased more in the group taking 300mg of Ashwagandha daily, however muscle size hadn’t increased compared to the control group.

The final study I looked at is about Ashwagandha effects on the immune system. In this study the saw an increase in both T-cells and natural killer cells after ingestion of Ashwagandha (4).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23439798 (1)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19789214 ( 2)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26609282 ( 3)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19388865 (4)

How managing your deuterium levels can optimize performance and longevity.

So many of you are probably asking yourself, what the hell is deuterium? Deuterium is an isotope of hydrogen. This form of hydrogen is containing one neutron and one proton. Compared to a normal hydrogen atom which only contains one proton, and this makes deuterium heavier. Deuterium is used in some nuclear applications as a moderator in heavy water reactors. In the process of making heavy water you also get deuterium depleted water (DDW) as a by-product.

Deuterium and energy production in the body

Most of the research on deuterium and the effects on the body originates from eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. This research began as a search for the reason for why some regions in Siberia had a higher number of centenarians. Their investigations led to examine the water the people were drinking. The glacial melt water showed to have 15-20% lower amounts of deuterium compared to “normal water “. In 1966 the Russian scientist published  Biological Role of Heavy Water in Living Organisms and in the book they discussed the potential benefits of DDW. Their research showed that mice fed water with higher concentrations of deuterium got smaller offspring and lost their reproductive capacity. In another experiment mice that was fed glacial melt water had the adverse effect. This resulted in faster growth and higher sexual function compared to the high deuterium group.

During this time, it was also found that our mitochondria has nanomotors than spins about 9000 rpm(faster than many sports cars). The mitochondria are responsible for all of our energy production. The energy produced in the body is called ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) and this nanomotor has a crucial role in the generation of ATP. This motor is not really a motor but rather an enzyme acting as a motor called ATP-synthase.

This “nano motors “shuffles hydrogen ions through the proton channel and this generates ATP se fig 1.

Figure 1 Mitochondrial nano motor ATP -synthase

It is also here in this nano motor that deuterium becomes a problem. In a simple way we could say that deuterium due to its heaviness get stuck in the nano motor and eventually can destroy them. This inhibition of the nano motors function could lead to less energy being produced and mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been linked to over 100 different diseases.

For me it’s quite obvious that lower energy production in the body leads to less energy for all processes and this could lead to problems like fatigue and eventually disease.   

How to optimize your lifestyle to lower deuterium.

    Luckily there are multiple of hacks and lifestyle changes that you can apply to lower your deuterium levels. The body does by itself detoxify deuterium and it also makes its own DDW in the cells so called “metabolic water”. There are also different deuterium levels in foods so by eating low deuterium foods you can manage your levels quite good. Generally, we could say that all forms of mitochondrial improvement will mitigate the problems derived from high deuterium levels.

  • Drinking deuterium depleted water. This water is one of the fastest ways to aid the body in getting rid of excess deuterium. This water is quite expensive because of the high cost of production. The good part is that you only need to drink it 1-3 months per year. I use Preventa which is a Hungarian company that has a food grade DDW facility. I get mine from this shop
  • Make your own metabolic water by fasting or dry fasting. Fasting or dry fasting will break down fats in the body. In the process of breaking down fats you also free stored water from your fat cells. This metabolic water is naturally low in deuterium.
  • Do a ketogenic or a carnivore diet. Ketogenic or carnivore diets are low in carbohydrates. Deuterium are usually stored in the sugary parts of the food. By eliminating carbohydrates, you will get less deuterium in to the system. Also, by eating high fat foods you also teach your body to become efficient in oxidizing fats which will help to ramp up the production of metabolic water.
  • Get out in the sun or use red light therapy. We know that red light or infra-red light can help with ATP production. Also, red light can change the viscosity of the water in the cells and by this making the energy production less friction less. Get our red-light panel here.
  • Avoid GMO foods and meat that has been fed grains. GMO foods are modified to grow faster and usually contains higher amounts of deuterium.
  • Drink hydrogen water the hydrogen gas will push out the deuterium
  • Use oxygen or ozone therapies to oxygenate the body. Oxygen binds deuterium and can help with lowering your total deuterium load
  • Cold therapy can improve mitochondrial function and increase your fat burning or conversion of white fat into brown fat.
  • Sleep well, the body detoxifies deuterium during sleep

Sources and links for further reading:

  1. https://issuu.com/sciencetosage/docs/history_of_deuterium_by_victor_best
  2. https://evolutionnews.org/2013/05/atp_synthase_an_1/
  3. https://www.ddcenters.com/resources-papers/
  4. https://www.nature.com/articles/150021a0
  5. http://www.romj.org/2014-0201
  6. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306987715004399

  7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4701522/

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That’s why we at BHC love Red Light Therapy!

What is red-light therapy and why is it a tool that can help you optimize your health? Red light therapy is something that has been a big thing in biohacking circles for a long time. I first came in contact with it via Ben Greenfield’s article in Mens Health Magazine (1). I started reading and found several published studies on the effects of exposure to red and infrared light. What I found was impressive there were several studies that showed the possibility for the cells to produce more energy using red light. This would in turn lead to several positive effects such as better skin lower inflammation, faster healing of injurys, etc.

The body’s energy currency is called ATP. Without ATP we would not be able to live. A part of this energy production is the citric acid cycle or the crebs cycle and the electron transport chain. Without making it too complicated, the food is broken as you eat down to nutrients that then pass a number of biochemical processes that eventually become the energy that drives us. This energy production is performed by our mitochondria, which are the power plants of the cells.


How does red-light therapy come into this complicated process?

 It seems that some of the electron transport chain is sensitive to light, especially red and infrared (2.) These mechanisms do not seem to be fully investigated, but the light seems to increase ATP production by an enzyme called Cytochrome c-oxidase.

More energy = more opportunities

 The red light does not penetrate so deeply into the skin but has been shown to have positive effects on the production of collagen. Red light can thus give you better and younger skin (3). The red light has also been shown to be effective for healing wounds and injuries (7). In order to have a more systemic effect, the use of infrared light which can penetrate deeper into the body but has the same effect on the energy production in the cells can be used in combination with the red light.

Will red / infrared light boost your testosterone levels?

 As I mentioned earlier, I used my panel primarily to boost my testosterone levels. It is difficult to just point to red light therapy as I have generally changed my entire lifestyle in recent years but from the first to the last measurement my levels today are about 2 to 3 times higher than before and when I use the lamp in the morning I can really feel its effects afterwards. There are also several studies done on the substance that show the possibility of increased testosterone levels. In a study from Korea, red light was used in rats and managed to increase their testosterone levels using red light with a wavelength around 670nm after four days (5). ) from 2018 concludes that red and infra red light can be used in male infertility and the light increases sperm mobility and chance of survival.

 There are also other areas where red light therapy has been shown to be effective

 • Inflammation (9)

• Increases cognitive ability and reduce symtoms of Alzheimer’s disease (8)

 • Hair growth (10)

• Increase athletic performance (11)

 • Treatment of underactive thyroid gland (12)

Red-light therapy from Biohacking collective


Most panels today in the market are expensive and adapted for professional use. We at biohacking collective decided to produce our own lamps because this is something we tested and believe in. We have launched two models for home use one is a panel of 45 w and the other is a lamp of 22.5 W. We hope to give you the benefits of red light therapy for a reasonable price. Our lamps have both red and infrared light with the wavelengths 660 and 880 Nm. These wavelengths are the ones that we found seem to have the greatest effect in the studies we read through during our work.

1.https://www.menshealth.com/health/a19539973/i-put-a-giant-red-light-on-my-balls-to-triple-my-testosterone-levels/

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2996814/

3.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3926176/

4.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327490751_Effect_of_red_light_and_near_infrared_laser_on_the_generation_of_reactive_oxygen_species_in_primary_dermal_fibroblasts

5. https://www.alliedacademies.org/articles/the-effects-of-low-level-laser-therapy-lllt-on-the-testis-in-elevatingserum-testosterone-level-in-rats.pdf

6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5992952/

7.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4751092/

8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28580093

9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25122099

10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28328705

11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17295156

12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3534372/                 

Hacka din sömn med blåljusblockerande glasögon

Blåljus glasögon

Hacka din sömn med blåljusglasögon. För mycket blått ljus har visat sig kunna rubba din sömnrytm och även vara skadligt för din hälsa.Denna skada sker primärt genom rubbningar av den biologiska klockan (1) men det blåljusets höga energiintensitet har även visats som potentiellt skadligt för ögat och dess funktion(2).För att motverka effekterna av blått ljus från skärmar har vi på  Biohackning Collective utvecklat våra egna glasögon som blockerar upp till 96% av det blåa spektrumet.

Är blått ljus farligt eller varför skall jag blockera detta ljus?

Blått ljus är absolut inte farligt och kan dessutom vara nyttigt och uppgigande för oss .Men här handlar det mycket om rätt tid på dygnet och om att hitta en balans som funkar med den naturliga ljus cykeln. Att exponera sig för blått ljus på morgonen eller under förmiddagen är något som naturligt signalerar vakenhet. Men att sitta framför skärmar i inomhusmiljö med lysrör ger oss alldeles för stor exponering av det blåa spektret. Denna stora mängd blått ljus kan orsaka ögontrötthet som i längden kan leda till för tidigt åldrande av ögat sk åldersrelaterad nedbrytning av gulafläcken (3). När du på eftermiddag eller kväll dessutom sitter framför skärmen så kommer du lura hjärnan  att tro att det är fortfarande dag . Detta kan leda till minskad melatoninproduktion som i sin tur kan leda till problem med insomning eller till reducerad sömnkvalitet.

Lösningen på detta är antingen att reducera skärmtid inför sänggående eller att välja att försöka filtrera ut det blåa spektrumet ur ljuset . Genom att bära blåljusglasögon från Biohacking  Collective så kan du vara säker på att du inte exponeras av för mycket skadligt blått ljus. Vi rekommenderar att använda den modellen med orangea linser ca 3-4 timmar innan   sänggående för att optimera din sömn. Detta kommer självklart inte lösa alla dina problem om du har insomnia men kan vara ett steg på vägen.

Vad är blått ljus?

Solens ljus innehåller blått, rött , gult , grön och orangea ljusstrålar.Dessa förger blandas till flera nyanser  beroende på våglängdernas energi.Där synligt ljus (700nm-380nm) går från rött  till blått. Rött ljus är det som innehåller minst energi och blått är det mest energiintesiva inom det synliga spektrumet. Blått ljus (380-500nm) är alltså väldigt energiintesivt.

Denna energiintensivitet leder till att det krävs mer energi för ögonen att bearbeta det blåa ljuset.

Det har i flertal studier visat sig att denna ljusa intensitet kan leda till ögonproblem (5). Dessa ögonproblem kan tillslut leda till försnabbande åldersnedbrytning av gula fläcken.

Blått ljus och sömn.

Vår sömn och utsöndringen av sömnhormonet melatonin styrs av vår naturligt inbyggda klocka s.k. den cirkadiskarytmen (4). Melatoninproduktionen regleras av tallkottkörteln som in sin tur styrs av kroppens cirkadiskarytm. När vi utsätter oss för blått ljus på kvällen så kommer detta hämma vår produktionen av detta viktiga sömnhormon. Vilket i sin tur leder till sämre sömnkvalitet. Men det finns även andra effekter av en lägre melatoninproduktion då melatonin i sin tur bryts ner till andra viktiga ämnen som kam agera som antioxidanter (6).

 (1)Hatori, M., Gronfier, C., Van Gelder, R. N., Bernstein, P. S., Carreras, J., Panda, S., Marks, F., Sliney, D., Hunt, C. E., Hirota, T., Furukawa, T., … Tsubota, K. (2017). Global rise of potential health hazards caused by blue light-induced circadian disruption in modern aging societies. NPJ aging and mechanisms of disease, 3, 9. doi:10.1038/s41514-017-0010-2

(2)Tosini, G., Ferguson, I., & Tsubota, K. (2016). Effects of blue light on the circadian system and eye physiology. Molecular vision, 22, 61-72.

(3) Z.-C. ZhaoY. ZhouG. TanJ. Li.  Research progress about the effect and prevention of blue light on eyes December 2018

(4)Figueiro, M. G., & Rea, M. S. (2010). The effects of red and blue lights on circadian variations in cortisol, alpha amylase, and melatonin. International journal of endocrinology, 2010, 829351.

(5) https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side

(6) Anna-Rebekka Ressmeyer, Juan C. Mayo, Veronika Zelosko, Rosa M. Sáinz, Dun-Xian Tan, Burkhard Poeggeler, Isaac Antolín, Beata K. Zsizsik, Russel J. Reiter & Rüdiger Hardeland (2003) Antioxidant properties of the melatonin metabolite N1-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AMK): scavenging of free radicals and prevention of protein destruction, Redox Report, 8:4, 205-213, DOI: 10.1179/135100003225002709

ZebZebbas 5 Easy Daily Biohacks Everyone Can/Should Do

ZEBZEBBAS 5 EASY DAILY BIOHACKS EVERYONE CAN /SHOULD DO

Biohacking doesn’t need to be complicated this are some  of my basic hacks you can do that will change an optimize your life to the better.

 

clean clear cold drinkDrink H2O
As soon as you wake up drink water (preferable filtered) and lots of it ,your body has been without hydration during the night and you have lost water during your sleep both from sweating and breathing.
Put a pinch of Celtic Sea salt or Himalayan salt into the water to get back some of the minerals and salts lost during the night.
I like to mix both Apple Cider vinegar and lemonjuice into my water. This will also except rehydrate your body also stimulate you bowel.

abstract beach bright clouds

Get Sunlight 
The body is full of photoreceptor’s ready to receive all spectrums of light.
The Suns natural bluelight will wake your mind up and adjust your circadian rhythm and the infrared light will stimulate your cells to create more energy. Do this upon waking up while you drinking your morning water and you will feel energized and alert during the day. And yes even on cloudy and cold days.

pexels-photo-1657205

Shake or Drybrush
Stimulate the Lymphatic system by shaking your body, jumping up and down or using a drybrush. This will increase your blood circulation and get rid of toxins and waste fluids that’s been clogging up in your system and organs during the night make sure you drink lots of water afterwards to flush everything out.

 

 

 

hands-coffee-smartphone-technology

Airplane mode
When possible turn your cellphone on airplane mode as often as you can ,not just for the decrease of EMF transmitted from the phone but also from the unnatural stress to always be reachable,social media etc.                              Have a certain time during the day and of course during evenings and always at night when you are phone free , people can always leave a voice message or send you a text.

pexels-photo-1031698

Minimize stress by accepting that things are what they are 
If things happen during the day that get your cortisol or other negative hormonal stress reactions to increase.
Remember this- ask yourself if you can affect the situation ? If not …just accept the fact that things are the way they are, example – yes you will be late and there’s nothing you can do about it so why get extra stressed about the fact that your going to be late?!
just accept it and take a deep breath? This are small mindgames you can remind yourself of every time you feel that your getting stressed in situations you can’t affect ,this requires practice practice practice but after a while you will master it.

 

How to make your bedroom in to a perfect sleep sanctuary!(Hur man gör sitt sovrum till den ultimata sömnfristaden !)


We almost spend a third of our lives in bed or at least we should. Getting a good night sleep is one of the most important things in life. Good sleep doesn’t only make you perform better during the day but its also makes you healthier, leaner and if you have continuous good sleep it could actually increase your life span. So sleep is usually done in the same room every night this gives you big room to optimize this environment I will down below show my favorite bedroom hacks.


1. Get an air freshener or find plants that could improve the air quality of your bed room this of course becomes extra important if you live in a city like I do.This is the one that i prefer Air Oasis 1000G3 Filterless UV & Cold Plasma Ionization Purifier Reduces Allergens, Mold, Odors, Germs, Smoke


2. Pitch black room is the way to go. Even a small amount of light from electrical equipment or from street lights have been shown to disturb your sleep.


3. Sound is also an important factor try to use ear plugs if you can if not you could use a white noise generator which effectively will cancel out most of other noises


4. Remove as much of electrical equipment as possible from your sleeping area. Emf:s from your phone or dirty electricity from electronic devices are actually shown to be able to affect your sleep in a bad way.

5. I shut of my Wi-Fi at night and keep my cell phone in another room. If you use your cell phone as an alarm clock, buy a real old school alarm clock.I also use this Faraday cage for my router WiFi Router Guard – Blocks EMF Exposure

6. Find a real good bed made in natural materials and try to see that your bed is not treated with flame retardants. Also buy high quality sheets I use sheets of bamboo fiber or organic cotton.

7. Grounded sleep. Sleeping on grounded sheets will give you constant access to free electrons from the earth, the free electrons act as antioxidants and can help you lower inflammation and mitigate some of the risks from emf.This sheets i recommend but i dont recommend to connect them to electrical ground , i use water pipes as grounding point. Earthing Sheet Fitted Twin Size with Grounding Connection Cord, 400TC Conductive Mat with Pure Silver Thread for Better Sleep, Natural Wellness and Healthy Earth Energy, Natural Beige

8. If you have a TV in the bed room remove it. Watching TV and sleeping is not a good combo. The light from the screen and the program on it will keep your brain active when you should be focusing on winding down.

9. Temperature is also an important factor. By keeping your bed room slightly colder than the rest. The body’s coldest temperature is achieved during sleep if the room is to hot this will be disturbed and sleep quality will go down.If you suffer from high temperature in your bed room check this out ChiliPad Cube 2.0 – Single and Dual Zones – Cooling and Heating Mattress Pad – Individual Temperature Control, Great Sleep Enhancement, Wireless Remote Integration (Single (75″ L x 30″ W))

10. Use of essential oils, I regularly use lavender oil which has been shown to have a calming effect on the mind. Go for an organic brand put drops on pillow or use some type of diffuser for essential oils.i use this diffuser Dr. Mercola Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser 120V

Hur man gör sitt sovrum till en perfekt sömnfristad!

Vi spenderar nästan en tredjedel av våra liv i sängen eller åtminstone så borde vi det. Att få en god natts sömn är en av de viktigaste sakerna i livet. Bra sömn gör inte bara dig bättre under dagen men det gör dig också friskare, smalare och om du har kontinuerlig god sömn kan det öka din livslängd. Så sömn görs vanligtvis i samma rum varje kväll, vilket ger dig stort utrymme för att optimera denna miljö. Jag kommer nedanför att visa mina bästa sovrums hacks.

  1. Skaffa en luftrenare eller hitta växter som kan förbättra luftkvaliteten på ditt sovrum det här blir givetvis extra viktigt om du bor i en stad som jag gör.Detta är den bästa jag vet Air Oasis 1000G3 Filterless UV & Cold Plasma Ionization Purifier Reduces Allergens, Mold, Odors, Germs, Smoke
  2. Ett kolsvart rum är målet, även en liten mängd ljus från elektrisk utrustning eller från gatubelysning har visat sig störa din sömn
  3. Ljud är också en viktig faktor att försöka använda öronproppar om du kan om du inte kan använda en vit brusgenerator som effektivt kommer att hjälpa till att dämpa de flesta oönskade ljuden.
  4. Ta bort så mycket elektriska prylar som möjligt från ditt sovrum. Elektromagnetisk högfrekvent strålning (EMF)från din telefon eller smutsig el från elektroniska enheter visas faktiskt för att kunna påverka din sömn på ett dåligt sätt.
  5. Jag stänger av min Wi-Fi på natten och förvarar min mobiltelefon i ett annat rum under natten. Om du använder din mobiltelefon som väckarklocka, köp en riktig gammal väckarklocka av den gamla skolan.Jag använder även en en farraday bur runt min router för att sänka den farliga strålningen.WiFi Router Guard – Blocks EMF Exposure
  6. Hitta en riktigt bra säng gjord i naturmaterial och försök att se till att din säng inte behandlas med flamskyddsmedel. Köp även högkvalitativa lakan, jag använder lakan av bambufiber eller ekologisk bomull.
  7. Jordad sömn. Sova på jordade lakan ger dig kontinuerlig tillgång till fria elektroner från jorden, de fria elektronerna fungerar som antioxidanter och kan hjälpa dig att sänka inflammation och kan även mildra några av riskerna från EMF.Men se till at att jorda via vatten rör eller direkt jord inte via elsystemet.Earthing Sheet Fitted Twin Size with Grounding Connection Cord, 400TC Conductive Mat with Pure Silver Thread for Better Sleep, Natural Wellness and Healthy Earth Energy, Natural Beige
  8. Om du har en tv i sovrummet ta bort den. Titta på TV och sova är inte en bra kombination. Ljuset från skärmen och programmet på det kommer att hålla din hjärna aktiv när du ska fokusera på nedvarvning.
  9. Temperaturen är också en viktig faktor. Genom att hålla ditt sovrum lite kallare än resten av din bostad så kommer antagligen du sova bättre. Kroppens kallaste temperatur uppnås under sömnen om rummet är varmt det kommer att störas och sömnkvaliteten kommer att gå ner. Om du har det för varmt i sovrummet så rekomenderar jag att du kollar på ChiliPad Cube 2.0 – Single and Dual Zones – Cooling and Heating Mattress Pad – Individual Temperature Control, Great Sleep Enhancement, Wireless Remote Integration (Single (75″ L x 30″ W))
  10. Användning av eteriska oljor, jag använder regelbundet lavendelolja som har visat sig ha en lugnande effekt på sinnet. Hitta ett ekologiskt märke och använd genom att droppa på kudden eller använd någon typ av diffuser för eteriska oljor.Jag använder denna Dr. Mercola Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser 120V

Unnatural light and its health effects. (Swedish version below text)

 

We spend more and more time under unnatural light and at the same time we reduce the time we are outdoors. Unnatural light is defined in this article as light from LED illumination from screens or fluorescent lights from low energy lamps and fluorescent light tubes and focusing on the blue spectrum in the wavelength of approximately 400-500 nm.

However, overexposure to unnatural light is something that can lead to health problems, but few people are aware of this. This article aims to deduce to research focusing on these health issues and the article will also try to provide tips on how to safeguard yourself best from these light sources.

The Circadian Rhythm

In order to understand the dangers of unnatural light and the importance of the natural light as part of our built-in biological clock, the circadian rhythm must be mentioned.The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2017 went to Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael W. Young for their discoveries of molecular mechanisms that govern the circadian rhythm. So what does the circadian rhythm mean and how are we affected? All of our cells in the body control this 24 hour system that initiates the various biological processes at the right time. Secretion  of hormones is something that follows this 24 hour cycle. In this 24 hour cycle, the sun plays an important role. The sun will change in color spectrum during the day and give our body signals of what’s going to happen.

Before we wake up, we will secret cortisol vi our adrenals to wake us up. Cortisol is often something that is associated with stress and has a slightly negative sound but cortisol is vital for giving us mental drive and energy. In the morning  the sun emits a slightly redder spectrum. Red light is known to have several health benefits and helps us to gain energy and  heal the body.

During the day, the light spectrum shifts towards a bluer tone that signals the alertness in our body, and then fall back into a reddish spectrum that gives us a signal that it is time for rest. The sleeping hormone melatonin is also controlled by this rhythm in the morning when our cortisol levels increase melatonin levels will decrease and in the evening, our production of melatonin is increased again.

Blue light and disturbed circadian rhythm.

Melatonin secretion begins in the evening when the body feels it’s  time for rest. But what happens if the rhythm is messed up? Blue light signals  alertness and it has been found in a number of studies that the blue light can change our biological clock. In case of excessive exposure of blue light and lack of natural light, our natural rhythm will be disturbed. When this rhythm is broken, melatonin production decreases and our sleep can be disturbed. Being awake longer will also increase cortisol secretion which can lead to other problems such as obesity and lower levels of testosterone and growth hormone.

Poor or disturbed sleep will short-term lead to adverse effects on mood and cognitive ability. Long-term effects of poor sleep can lead to increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mental health problems.

Blue light and eye problems

Excessive exposure to blue light has also been shown to be harmful to the eyes. The short wavelength of the blue light is very energy-intensive for the eyes. Some studies have shown that the blue light causes damage to the retina and the macula. There are even doctors talking about a generation of macular degeneration due to excessive screen exposure. Worth adding are our children’s eyes are even more sensitive to blue light.

My solutions

• Be sure to get more natural light to restore the natural rythm. Be sure to go out when it is sunny. I usually try to catch some morning sun if possible.

• Reduce screen and TV time. Get fixed routines about how much screen time you allow yourself.

• Block blue light with glasses and screen filters. Blue blocking glasses are something I use every day especially in the afternoon. There are many apps that can help reduce the blue light from mobile phone or computer. I use F.lux on my computer and always have the mobile in night-shift mode

• Replace low energy, LED and fluorescent lamps in the home I use standard bulbs or halogen lamps .i use a bulb that blocks blue light in my bedroom.

• Use candles or red lights to balance the blue light. I use red light and infrared light daily. Lighting candles in the evening when watching TV is also a great way to balance the blue light

• Take a clean lab tested omega 3 source our eyes contains  loads of DHA fatty acids.

•Use Supplements  that contain Lutein and Zeaxanthin

 

Onaturligt ljus och dess Hälsoeffekter

 

Vi spenderar mer och mer tid under onaturligt ljus och samtidigt så minskar vi den tid som vi är utomhus. Onaturligt ljus definieras i denna artikel som ljus från LED belysning från skärmar eller fluorescerande ljus från lågenergilampor och lysrör med fokus på det blåa spektrumet som ligger i våglängden 380-500nm. Att överexponering av onaturligt ljus är något som kan leda till hälsoproblem är det dock få som känner till. Denna artikel har avsikten att härleda till forskning som fokuserar på dessa hälsoproblem och artikeln kommer även försöka ge tips för hur man kan skydda sig bäst från dessa ljusa källor.

Cirkadiska Rytmen

 

För att förstå farorna med onaturligt ljus och vikten av det naturliga ljuset som en del av vår inbyggda biologiska klocka så måste den cirkadiska rytmen nämnas. Nobelpriset i fysiologi eller medicin 2017 gick till Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash och Michael W. Young för deras upptäckter av molekylära mekanismer som styr den cirkadiska rytmen.Så vad innebär den cirkadiska rytmen och hur påverkas vi av den? Alla våra celler i kroppen styrs av detta 24 timmars system som sätter igång de olika biologiska processerna vid rätt tidpunkt. Utsöndring av hormoner är något som följer denna 24 timmars cykel. I denna 24 timmars cykel så spelar solen en viktig roll solen kommer skifta i färgspektrum under dagen och ge vår kropp signaler om vad som skall hända. Innan vi vaknar så utsöndras kortisol för att väcka oss. Kortisol är ofta något som förknippas med stress och har en något negativ klang men kortisol är livsnödvändigt för att ge oss drivkraft och energi .På morgonen ger solen oss ett något rödare spektrum. Rött ljus är känt för att ha flera hälsofördelar och hjälper oss att få energi och hela kroppen. Under dagen skiftar ljusspektrumet mot en blåare ton som signalerar vakenhet i vår kropp för att sedan under kvällen falla tillbaka till ett rödare spektrum som ger oss signal att det är dags för vila. Sömn hormonet melatonin styrs även av denna rytm på morgonen när våra kortisol nivåer går upp så minskar melatonin nivåerna och på kvällen kommer vår produktion av melatonin öka.

 

Blått ljus och rubbad dygnsrytm.

Melatonin utsöndring börjar på kvällen när kroppen känner att det är dags för vila. Men vad händer om rytmen är rubbad? Blått ljus signalerar vakenhet och det har visat sig i ett flertal studier att det blåa ljuset kan ändra vår biologiska klocka. Vid överdriven exponering av blått ljus samt brist på naturligt ljus kommer vår naturliga rytm rubbas. När denna rytm rubbas minskar melatoninproduktionen och vår sömn kan bli störd. Att vara vaken längre kommer även att ge mer kortisolutsöndring vilket kan leda till andra problem som övervikt och lägre nivåer av testosteron och tillväxthormon. Dålig eller rubbad sömn kommer kortsiktigt leda till negativa effekter på humör och kognitiv förmåga. långsiktiga effekter av dålig sömn kan leda till ökad risk för diabetes, hjärt och kärlsjukdomar samt psykiska problem.

Blått ljus och ögonproblem

Överdriven exponering för blått ljus har även visats kunna vara skadligt för ögonen. Den korta våglängden på det blåa ljust är mycket energikrävande för ögonen. Vissa studier har visat att det blåljuset ger skador på näthinnan och gula fläcken. Det finns tom läkare som pratar om en generation som kommer få förstörda ögon pga. av överdriven skärmexponering. Värt att tillägga är våra barns ögon är ännu mer känsliga för blått ljus.

 

 

Mina lösningar

  • Se till att få mer naturligt ljus för att återställa den naturliga rytmen. Passa på att gå ut när det är soligt. Jag brukar försöka fånga lite morgonsol om möjligt.

 

  • Reducera skärm och TV tid. Skaffa fasta rutiner kring hur mycket skärmtid du tillåter dig själv.

 

  • Blockera blått ljus med glasögon och skärmfilter. Blåljus glasögon är något som jag använder varje dag särskilt på eftermiddagen. Det finns många appar som kan hjälpa till att reducera det blåljuset från mobiltelefon eller dator. Jag använder F.lux på datorn och har alltid mobilen i nightshift mode

 

  • Byt ut lågenergi, led och lysrör i hemmet.Jag använder vanliga glödlampor eller halogenlampor samt en glödlampa som blockerar blått ljus i mitt sovrum.

 

  • Använd levande ljus eller rött ljus för att balansera ut det blåa ljuset. Jag använder rött ljus och infrarött ljus dagligen. Att tända levande ljus på kvällen när du kollar på tv är även ett bra sätt att balansera ut det blåa ljuset

 

  • Ta en ren labbtestad omega 3 källa ögonen består till stor del av DHA

 

  • Supplementera med tillskott som innehåller Lutein och Zeaxanthin