Podcast 316: Exploring the Link Between Light and Health with Dr. Roger Seheult

On the third installment of our Longevity Series, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance and Principal Scientist Dr. Kristen Holmes sits down with Dr. Roger Seheult to explore how light exposure impacts sleep and overall health.

Dr. Holmes and Dr. Seheult explore the powerful impact of light on our circadian rhythm, highlighting how light exposure and timing influence brain circuitry, mood, and overall wellbeing. They emphasize melatonin’s vital role in longevity and explain why spending more time outdoors is essential for maintaining a healthy sleep-wake cycle. They discuss the connection between slow-wave sleep and growth hormone production, and how our food choices can affect circadian health. Dr. Seheult offers practical strategies to enhance sleep quality, outlines the eight pillars of restorative sleep, and underscores the profound importance of living with purpose.

Episode Chapters

00:42 - Light, sleep, and circadian rhythm

02:32 - Light timing and brain circuitry

05:31 - Melatonin’s important role in longevity

09:58 - Why we need to be outdoors more

14:46 - Mastering sleep timing

16:31 - Slow-wave sleep and growth hormone production

18:42 - The foods impacting your sleep

24:25 - Practical changes and time-restrictive eating

25:12 - The 8 pillars of sleep

30:32 - Living for purpose