The Science of Blue Light with Andy Mant
Andy Mant created BLUblox after discovering firsthand how detrimental the wrong kinds of light can be. Frustrated by his own broken sleep patterns and inexplicable weight gain, he set out to find the reason that wellness eluded him. Not only did he learn about the effects of light on our bodies and our sleep cycles, he also realized how ineffective most of the blue-blocking glasses on the market really are.
“Do you know basic physics? Clear lenses cannot block the color blue.”
Andy joined me for my first over-the-phone podcast interview to walk us through the way light influences our brains, our moods, and our quality of life. He explains how new moms might unintentionally be keeping their babies awake at night, that sunscreen is probably doing you more harm than good, and why shift work is not ideal for anyone. A well-grounded problem solver, Andy offers insight into managing kids’ exposure to blue light and talks about the mission of Restoring Vision, the not-for-profit BLUblox partners with to bring sight to underprivileged communities.
“The skin has its own circadian rhythm independent of the master clock. It can be trained through environmental stimuli.”
Babies are nocturnal, and other mind-blowing facts about pregnancy and birth (5:00)
Melatonin can only be produced in the absence of blue and green light, and you don’t want that in the daytime (9:00)
The origin story: light, sleep, weight gain, and blue blockers that actually worked (12:45)
Back up a sec, how does light actually affect our brains? (17:00)
Sunlight repairs blue light damage (so get outside more) (27:00)
Sunglasses, sunscreen, and sunburn: why you should watch the sun rise and set (29:30)
The ideal schedule, based on light (42:00)
Blue light home screens on biohacking devices, and how to sleep in Iceland (51:00)
Variations in sleep and diet throughout the year (56:00)
The mission of Restoring Vision (1:01:00)
Shift work is killing you, get out (but if you can’t, here’s how to hack it) (1:06:00)
iPads and children: what’s the cause for concern? Depression, addiction, sensitivity, thyroid issues. Inevitable, so strategy is necessary (1:14:15)
BLUblox is in Australia, but don’t let that deter you. Shipping is fast and prescription lenses are an option (1:24:30)
Find Andy
In This Episode
Lights Out: Sleep, Sugar, and Survival
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