In a revealing episode of The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show, Dr. Lyon meets with metabolic expert, Dr. Alexis Cowen from Princeton, to delve into the lesser-known yet crucial topic of how light impacts human health beyond traditional wellness factors like diet and exercise.

While often overlooked, light is a fundamental component affecting various biological processes. Dr. Cowen uncovers how our environment—and specifically, the types of light we're exposed to—significantly impacts our health and well-being.

Discussing her preference for ‘bioharmonizing’ over ‘biohacking,’ Dr. Cowen suggests working in sync with our biology, rather than attempting to short-cut physiological processes. She outlines how this approach leverages our environment to naturally optimize bodily functions.

These light wavelengths are prominent in early morning and late afternoon sunlight, aiding in mitochondrial health and energy production. Exposing your body to natural red and infrared light helps support bodily functions and regulates metabolic processes.

"Simply by leveraging that UVB light and getting more of it in your life, you can dramatically suppress your appetite and increase your basal metabolic rate."

The discussion reveals plentiful routes for integrating natural light into everyday life to naturally synchronize our biological cycles with the Earth's light-dark cycles, advocating for spending more time outdoors whenever possible.

• Encourage stepping outside during sunrise and mid-day to tap into the naturally therapeutic effects of sunlight.
• Consider using tinted eyewear and adjusting screen settings to limit excess blue light exposure during nighttime to improve melatonin production for better sleep quality.
• Replace indoor lighting with full spectrum lighting that includes red, infrared, and UV components to better mimic natural light environments.

To aid adaptation, simple changes such as designating more time for outdoor activities and arranging living and working spaces to favor natural light exposure are suggested advancements over merely supplementing lost sunlight with vitamins.

“It’s not like we just can’t use technology and live modern lives, we can just do it in a more thoughtful, human biology-coherent way.”

Together, these approaches and revelations discussed by Dr. Lyon and Dr. Cowen anchor a holistic understanding of light’s interplay with human biology and set the stage for how individuals can evolve their lifestyle habits to foster lasting health and wellness—all through the simple optimization of light-filled environments.