Are LED Lights “Bad”?

DISCLAIMER: Mito Red Light devices are not clinically proven to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical conditions.  Mito Red Light devices are low / risk general wellness devices aimed at affecting the body through supporting cellular function. The scientific studies referenced in this article are for educational and informational purposes only and are meant to educate the reader on the exciting and growing field of phototherapy.  To see a list of precautionary warnings and contraindications, click here

Authored By Benjamin Caleb Williams, RN, BA, TCRN, CEN

LED lights have become an integral part of modern life, illuminating our homes, offices, streets, and even our screens. Their energy efficiency, long lifespan, and versatility make them the dominant choice for lighting solutions worldwide. However, as their usage grows, some people have questioned their impact on human health and well-being. Are LEDs inherently bad, or does the conversation require a more nuanced perspective?

Ultimately, the concern with LED lighting is not necessarily the technology itself but rather 1) the specific wavelengths of light they emit and 2) whether or not they "flicker" (most LEDs used for ambient lighting unfortunately do flicker. Mito Red Light therapy devices do not!

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Many people unknowingly use artificial lighting that lacks beneficial wavelengths typically obtained in sunlight. These wavelengths of course include red and near-infrared light, which are important for optimal cellular health. Understanding the difference between ambient LED lighting and specialized light therapy applications is important for evaluating the effects of LED lighting on overall wellness.

Understanding LED Technology

LEDs, short for Light Emitting Diodes, function differently from traditional incandescent bulbs. Unlike incandescent or fluorescent lights, which produce light through heat or gas excitation, LEDs generate illumination through electroluminescence, a more energy-efficient process that allows for precise control over the wavelengths emitted.

How LED Lights Work

LEDs produce light by passing an electric current through a semiconductor material, which emits photons in a specific wavelength range. This technology allows for energy-efficient lighting, but it also means that LEDs can be engineered to emit specific colors, or wavelengths, of light rather than a broad spectrum. Broad spectrum light, like natural sunlight, includes a wide range of wavelengths across the light spectrum.

While the efficiency of LEDs is beneficial for reducing energy consumption, it has raised concerns about the impact of prolonged exposure to artificial LED lighting. Many common LEDs used in homes and offices lack important wavelengths, like the red and near-infrared wavelengths, which are found in sunlight and play an important role in biological processes.

LED Lights Can Provide Any Wavelength

One major advantage of LED technology is its ability to be tuned to any wavelength. This is actually the science behind Mito’s LED-based red light therapy devices, as it enables them to be designed to emit beneficial wavelengths, such as red and near-infrared light, without excess heat or wasted energy. The LEDs used in standard ambient lighting, however, often prioritize energy savings over providing a wide variety of wavelengths.

The Problems with Ambient LED and Fluorescent Lighting

While LED and fluorescent lighting are commonly used for general illumination, they come with drawbacks that have the potential to impact human health and well-being. These concerns stem from the specific wavelengths they emit, as well as other factors such as flicker and intensity.

Here are some of the key problems associated with ambient LED and fluorescent lighting:

Many LED and fluorescent bulbs can emit excessive blue light, which can disrupt circadian rhythms.

LED and fluorescent bulbs often lack red and near-infrared wavelengths, which are important for promoting optimal cellular function and health.

LED lighting often exhibits flicker which, when relied on for illuminating your environment, can lead to eye strain and headaches.

These concerns highlight the need to balance artificial lighting with exposure to beneficial wavelengths like the red and near-infrared wavelengths of light typically obtained from sunlight.

Comparing Spectral Graphs: LEDs vs. Fluorescents

When comparing spectral distributions between LEDs and fluorescent lighting, LEDs typically have a sharp peak in the wavelengths they are designed to deliver, while fluorescents produce a broader but inconsistent spectrum. The LEDs used for indoor lighting tend to provide light that falls in the blue and green ranges of the spectrum. Neither ambient LED lighting nor fluorescent lights effectively replicate natural sunlight, which evenly distributes a full range of wavelengths that include red and near-infrared light.

Wavelengths Used In Ambient Lighting

Ambient lighting in homes and offices primarily consists of blue and green LEDs, which are chosen for their efficiency and brightness. However, there are potential downsides to choosing LEDs that use these wavelengths. Emphasis on blue light, for example, can disrupt sleep patterns by suppressing melatonin production, leading to difficulty falling asleep and decreased sleep quality.

In contrast, natural sunlight contains a full spectrum of light, including red and near-infrared wavelengths, which promote mitochondrial function and help stimulate cellular repair. The absence of these beneficial wavelengths in standard LED or fluorescent lighting may contribute to increased fatigue over time and keep people from getting the wavelengths of light that were common with an outdoor lifestyle.

The Role of Flicker in LED and Fluorescent Lights

One issue to consider with artificial lighting is flicker, which occurs due to the way these light sources are powered. Flicker is imperceptible to most people but can still cause adverse effects on health, including eye strain, migraines, and neurological discomfort. Some common symptoms associated with exposure to flickering LED and fluorescent lights can include:

• Increased headaches and migraines

• Eye strain and visual discomfort

• Reduced concentration and mental fatigue

• Sensitivity in individuals with neurological conditions

Minimizing flicker and increasing exposure to beneficial wavelengths can help mitigate these issues.

Modern Ambient Lighting is Missing Red and NIR Light

One significant drawback of standard LED lighting is its deficiency in red and near-infrared wavelengths. These wavelengths are known to play an important role in stimulating energy production in your cells, helping promote skin health and cellular regeneration, yet they are largely absent from indoor lighting environments.

The Impact of An Indoor Lifestyle on Red Light Exposure

Modern lifestyles have significantly reduced natural light exposure, leading to a deficiency in exposure to a wide variety of wavelengths. Most people spend the majority of their day indoors under artificial lighting that lacks the balance found in sunlight.

Here are some of the effects of reduced natural light exposure:

• Increased risk of eye strain and vision problems.

• Reduced cellular energy production, leading to fatigue.

• Decreased vitamin D production.

• Impaired skin health and increased signs of aging.

By spending more time indoors, individuals unknowingly deprive their bodies of essential wavelengths that support overall health.

Ambient Lighting Has Limited Wavelengths

Ambient LED and fluorescent lights are designed for efficiency, not biological benefits. As a result, they are typically designed to emit a narrow spectrum that prioritizes blue and green light while neglecting red and near-infrared wavelengths. When someone lives an indoor lifestyle, as is common in modern times, this imbalance can deprive the body of the benefits that humans have typically experienced in outdoor lifestyles throughout most of history.

The Effect of Decreased Red Light

Red and near-infrared light play a role in supporting cellular function, particularly in processes related to energy production and tissue repair. While the body can adapt to varying light conditions, insufficient exposure to these wavelengths may contribute to subtle physiological changes over time.

Research into the impact of red light on the human body has shown that red light can help:

• Improve collagen production, affecting skin appearance and quality.

• Improve symptoms of fatigue and increase energy levels.

• Speed muscle recovery and performance following physical activity.

• Potentially influence inflammation and oxidative stress, reducing overall joint or muscle discomfort.

While more research is needed to fully understand the extent of these effects, some individuals may find red light therapy helpful in supporting overall well-being and maintaining a more balanced light environment.

Why Red and Near-Infrared Light Is the Solution

Given the deficiencies of ambient lighting, red and near-infrared light supplementation is becoming an increasingly popular way to support cellular health. These wavelengths penetrate deep into tissues, promoting mitochondrial function and enhancing overall well-being.

Why Supplementing with Red and Near-Infrared Light is Beneficial

Red light therapy provides targeted wavelengths that support energy production, skin regeneration, and muscle recovery. People use red light therapy for many reasons, including: 

• Enhancing the speed and quality of wound healing.

• Supporting skin health and reducing signs of aging.

• Improving muscle recovery and reducing inflammation.

• Regulating circadian rhythms for better sleep.

How to Supplement The Wavelengths You’re Missing

There are two great ways to supplement the wavelengths that you’re missing by being indoors. One is by spending purposeful time outdoors on a regular basis, getting the benefits of natural sunlight. The other is by using a high-quality red light therapy device. These devices emit specific red and near-infrared wavelengths that provide therapeutic benefits without excess heat or harmful UV exposure.

Are LEDs Bad? The Verdict

LEDs themselves are not inherently bad; it is the specific wavelengths they emit (or omit) that determine their effects on health. Standard LED lighting is often deficient in beneficial wavelengths, but LED-based red light therapy devices provide a targeted solution to fill these gaps.

The issue is not whether a light source is an LED but rather what spectrum of light it emits. High-quality red light therapy devices leverage LED technology to provide therapeutic wavelengths that support overall well-being.

Red Light From LEDs vs Heat Lamps or Fluorescent Lighting

Unlike traditional heat lamps or fluorescent lights, LED-based red light therapy devices emit precise wavelengths without excessive heat or wasted energy. This makes them an ideal solution for safely supplementing missing red and near-infrared light. Heat lamps or fluorescent lights can emit light that is red, but this light does not include the same level of precision of wavelengths or intensity of those wavelengths as LED lighting can.

Mito Red Light

If you’re looking to balance your light exposure and support your overall health, Mito Red Light offers high-quality red light therapy devices designed to provide the wavelengths your body needs. Our selection of red light therapy panels is ideal for anyone wanting to conveniently and easily supplement the light their body is missing from an indoor lifestyle without having to alter their existing lifestyle and routines.

We invite you to review our selection of high-quality products or to contact one of our helpful representatives at 1-866-861-6486(MITO) to learn more about our products.