The world is divided between those who prefer tortillas with or without onions, those who enjoy pineapple on pizza and those who would not eat it at all and, of course, those who sleep completely in the dark without even a ray of light and those who prefer to leave a crack in the blind open.
We all have our preferences about how we sleep, but the question is: does the choice affect our health? What is better? And science has come up with some answers for us. Research conducted by the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine indicates that it would be appropriate to sleep completely in the dark.
It is not just a matter of preferences, but rather, not sleeping with the blind down all the way can cause health problems. According to the results of this research, even a night of exposure to moderate light during sleep could affect our glucose levels, as well as cardiovascular regulation.
Both of these things could increase our risk of diseases such as diabetes, heart problems or metabolic syndrome. Obviously, it’s not just a matter of taste.
The cause could be in the effect that light has on our insulin levels. The results indicated that those people who slept with some light in the room had higher levels of insulin resistance The next morning. This could indicate a compensatory insulin response to maintain euglycemia in conditions of increased insulin resistance.
When analyzing the results of the study we must bear in mind that it is an investigation carried out in the laboratory and that, when extrapolated to other scenarios, the results could be different or not necessarily generalizable.
In any case, these results accompany those that indicate that light can affect our melatonin levels and make it difficult to sleep. If we need light, for whatever reason, the ideal is that we use a soft light that we put at ground level. We leave you some perfect options.
Children’s Night Light, Aisuo[2-Piezas]Led Night Light with Plug, Children’s Nightlight Lamp with Baby Room, Bedroom, Corridors, Warm White
Tolare LED Light with Motion Sensor and Magnetic Strip, 12 LEDs USB Rechargeable Cabinet Light, for Kids Rooms, Bedrooms, Stairs, Closets – Warm White (3 Pack)
What’s more, it is preferable that we use one with a red or orange tone, instead of white or blue. Of course, if we cannot avoid the light in the room, we can use some kind of mask or change the orientation of the bed so that it does not hit us directly in the face.
Sleep Mask,3D Sleeping Mask with Earplug and Adjustable Strap Bandage,100% Light Blocking Mask Adjustable Strap Soft Breathable Eye Mask Travel Eye Mask
Sleep Mask, Gritin 100% Anti-Light Opaque Comfortable Skin-friendly Pure Natural Silk Fabric and Pure Cotton Filling Eye Masks Mask
Note: Some of the links posted here are affiliate links. Despite this, none of the items mentioned have been proposed by either the brands or the stores, their introduction being a unique decision of the editorial team. Prices and availability may change after publication.
In Vitónica | The biphasic sleep of the Middle Ages: this is how people slept in two shifts and why
Images |Unsplash