Red light therapy has systemic, not just local, effects. In one study, illuminating a small patch on participants' backs with red light before a glucose challenge reduced their peak blood sugar spike by over 20%. This suggests mitochondria communicate body-wide to create a systemic metabolic response.

The unbalanced, short-wavelength-heavy spectrum of common LED lights, which lacks counteracting long-wavelength red light, may cause systemic mitochondrial dysfunction. Some scientists believe this is a major public health issue with a potential impact comparable to that of asbestos.

Long-wavelength light (red and infrared) is not blocked by skin or even bone. It passes through tissues and scatters internally, affecting mitochondria throughout the body. Experiments show that light shone on a person's chest can be detected coming out of their back, confirming deep-body penetration.

Contrary to the dominant narrative focused on skin cancer risk, emerging research shows that higher sunlight exposure is linked to longer life and reduced all-cause mortality, particularly from cardiovascular disease and cancer. The key is to get regular sun exposure while strictly avoiding sunburn.

All plant matter naturally reflects infrared light. Placing plants in an office or home, especially where they can catch sunlight, increases the ambient levels of health-promoting long-wavelength light. Architects are beginning to incorporate this principle into building design to create healthier indoor environments.

A simple slow-motion video on a smartphone can reveal the rapid, invisible flickering of many LED lights. While the eye doesn't consciously register this, the brain does, forcing it to work overtime. This hidden environmental stressor may contribute to attention and behavioral issues.

The benefits of red light therapy are highly time-dependent. Mitochondria are most receptive and primed for ATP production in the morning, making treatments before 11 AM significantly more effective. Afternoon sessions have little to no effect as mitochondria shift to other maintenance tasks.

The push for energy-efficient LEDs came at a biological cost. These bulbs save energy by omitting parts of the light spectrum, like infrared, present in natural sunlight. This results in an unnatural, blue-heavy light that fails to provide the full-spectrum signals our bodies need to regulate circadian rhythms.

Mice living under standard LED lighting develop significant health problems, including fatty livers, smaller kidneys and hearts, unbalanced blood glucose, and anxiety-like behaviors. This suggests the unbalanced light spectrum in modern indoor environments may have profound, detrimental systemic effects on mammalian health.