FIELD OF VIEW

Let there be less light

- Mark Westmoquette

Light pollution, poor sleep hygiene and overstimulation are pushing our bodies out of sync. Mark Westmoquette explains why darkness matters now more than ever

According to a growing number of scientists and doctors, many of us are no longer getting enough darkness in our lives. As human animals, we rely on the dark just as much as the light.

That rhythm is our natural sleep-wake cycle. It's why we feel alert in the morning and drowsy in the evening. Darkness stimulates the pineal gland located deep in the brain to produce melatonin, which acts to slow down our body's systems and prepare us for sleep. Maybe you've felt this: a rise in 'sleep pressure', usually about two hours before bedtime, as melatonin levels build.

As you can imagine, there are a number of consequences to our health when our circadian rhythm slips out of kilter. And one of the biggest culprits? Artificial light.