Dr. Glen Jeffery: Using Red Light to Improve Your Health & the Harmful Effects of LEDs

Andrew Huberman

Dec 1, 2025

Episode description

Dr. Glen Jeffery, PhD, is a professor of neuroscience at University College London and a leading expert on how different colors (wavelengths) of light impact cellular, organ and overall health. He explains that long-wavelength light (red, near-infrared and infrared) can enter the body and brain to enhance mitochondrial function and thereby improve metabolism, eyesight, blood glucose regulation, mood, hormones and more. We also discuss how short-wavelength light from LED bulbs can impair mitochondrial health and why balanced, full-spectrum light is essential for health. Dr. Jeffery shares simple yet powerful ways to use natural and artificial light sources to enhance your metabolic function, eyesight and longevity.Show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/gwX6N6dThank you to our sponsorsAG1: ⁠https://drinkag1.com/hubermanWealthfront*: ⁠https://wealthfront.com/hubermanJoovv: ⁠https://joovv.com/hubermanRorra: ⁠https://rorra.com/hubermanFunction: ⁠https://functionhealth.com/hubermanDr. Glen JefferyAcademic profile: https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/7465 University College London Research Domains: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/research/domains/food-metabolism-society/experts/glen-jeffery Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=UYlObKkAAAAJ&hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glen-jeffery-441a2b1b Timestamps00:00:00 Glen Jeffery00:03:12 Light, Ultraviolet (UV), Visible & Infrared (IR) Light00:06:25 Light's Impact on the Body & Light, Sunburn, Cataracts00:09:55 UV Light, All-Cause Mortality, Skin Cancer00:14:55 Sponsors: Wealthfront & Joovv00:17:58 Light Impacts Mitochondria Function & Structure, Long-Wavelength Light (Red/IR), Nano Water00:25:00 Long-Wavelength Light Passes Through Clothing & Body; Tissue Scattering00:30:08 Long-Wavelength Light & Blood Glucose; Mitochondria00:36:19 Red Light, Parkinson's Disease, Cell Death; Eye Rods & Aging; Mitochondria Community00:42:46 Red/IR Light, Skull & Brain; Safe Non-Ionizing Radiation00:48:22 Sponsors: AG1 & Rorra00:51:04 Offsetting Retinal Aging, Improve Vision & Long-Wavelength Light00:59:28 Tool: Long-Wavelength Light & Preserve Retinal Mitochondria; Sunlight01:03:50 Mitochondrial Theory of Aging, Circadian Rhythm & Mitochondria01:07:57 Tool: Improve Vision with Long-Wavelength Light01:10:44 Macular Degeneration, Rescuing Vision, Early Intervention01:13:59 Light Effects at Local vs Distant Tissues, Immune System, Body Communication01:19:09 Sponsor: Function01:20:56 Short-Wavelength Light, LED Light, Mitochondria & Serious Health Detriments01:28:39 Lifespan, LED Lights; Sunlight & Balanced Wavelengths; "Sunlike" Marketing01:34:45 Fires, Incandescent Lights vs LED Lights, Lasers; Long-Wavelength Devices01:39:07 Incandescent & Halogen Bulbs, Mitochondria & Built Environments01:45:19 Windows, Light & Office Work; Screens, Kids & Myopia; Tools: Plants; Lighting01:55:56 Bring the Outdoors Indoors02:00:35 Tool: Candlelight; Dim Halogen Lamps02:05:06 Mitochondrial Diseases, Children & Long-Wavelength Light; Light Bulbs02:11:53 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter*This experience may not be representative of other Wealthfront clients, and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Experiences will vary. Andrew Huberman receives cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage for paid testimonials in his podcast, creating a conflict of interest. The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The base APY is 3.50% on cash deposits as of November 07, 2025, is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum. If eligible for the overall boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, your boosted rate is also subject to change if the base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period. Funds in the Cash Account are swept to program banks, where it earns the variable APY. Same-day withdrawal or instant payment transfers may be limited by destination institutions, daily transaction caps, and by participating entities such as Wells Fargo, the RTP® Network, and FedNow® Service. New Cash Account deposits are subject to a 2-4 day holding period before becoming available for transfer. Investment advisory services are provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Securities investments: not bank deposits, bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value.#HubermanLab #Science #Health Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Utilize morning red light for optimal energy production

The beneficial effects of long-wavelength light are most significant in the morning because your mitochondria are in a different, more receptive state to produce energy.

#mitochondria

#red-light

Utilize halogen bulbs for healthy, full-spectrum light

Since incandescent bulbs are being phased out, you can use halogen bulbs, which are a type of incandescent that provides a healthy, full spectrum of light similar to the sun.

#light-therapy

Shine red light before meals to lower blood sugar spikes

Shining red light on a small patch of the back before a meal can reduce the subsequent blood glucose spike by over 20%.

#glucose

#red-light

Enhance vision with three-minute red light exposure

A single three-minute exposure of long-wavelength light to the eyes can improve vision, and this effect is stable for about five days.

#red-light

#vision

Enhance mitochondrial energy with water and long-wavelength light

Long-wavelength light is absorbed by the nanowater surrounding mitochondria, changing its viscosity and allowing the ATP-producing motors to spin faster.

#mitochondria

#water

Balance LED lighting to prevent fatty liver and sperm issues

In mice, living under standard LED lighting without balancing red light leads to systemic issues like developing fatty livers and abnormal sperm.

#fatty-liver

#LED

Get more sunlight for a longer life

Research from dermatologist Richard Weller suggests that all-cause mortality is lower in people who get a lot of sunlight, as long as they avoid sunburn.

#longevity

#sunlight

Utilize red light to enhance internal organ health

Long-wavelength light from the sun can pass through your skin, scatter around your internal organs, and a small percentage can even exit through your back.