Mal-Illumination Is a Part of Malnutrition, Says Ari Whitten
Think about the lives that most of us live – in climate controlled interiors with barely any exposure to the sun, the wind, and the world, as nature meant for us to live in. We don’t awaken with the sunrise, nor do we fall asleep when it sets. We are surrounded by and live mostly with artificial light – is it any wonder that our body experiences disorder, disease, fatigue and a host of other problems? Ari Whitten is this supremely fit person – and he looks like a Greek God I must mention – who has made it his mission to help people become healthier, fitter and more energetic. Ari is the author of the bestselling book The Energy Blueprint, and I had a chance to pick his brain in a recent podcast.
There is malnutrition but there’s also mal-illumination.
We think about the food we eat as being so important for health and wellness. However, there is another important component of nutrition that we tend to overlook, which is light. If the body can suffer from malnutrition, it can also suffer the ill effects of mal-illumination. Most of us know about the importance of Vitamin D for the body, which regulates about 2000 genes in our body, according to Ari. However, it isn’t as simple as popping a supplement to get the benefits of this vitamin. Actual exposure to sunlight is important too. It impacts muscle and brain health, regulates the immune system, protects against disease, and more.
When the light hits the skin and enters our eyes, it actually travels through our nerves and travels to the brain, explains Ari. This impacts neurotransmitters that control so many different things such as our biological clock, circadian rhythms, our sleep and wake cycles, our mood, and our energy levels. However, with the sort of artificial light that surrounds us, we could be experiencing all sorts of problems such as poor brain performance, mood disruption, eye strain and even possibly cataract formation. Ari and I discussed how LED light panels work, and how infrared and near infrared light can help stimulate physiological mechanisms and chemical reactions.
Talking saunas.
Ari and I also discussed one of my favorite topics to discuss with guests on my podcast, and that is saunas. Ari had an interesting perspective to share on the subject of saunas. He cautions against believing the hype about some of the types of saunas available out there. While there is no disputing the positive impacts of saunas as a whole, he believes that the full spectrum saunas that are being sold may be more of a marketing gimmick with little science to support their use.
Some manufacturers claim that their products penetrate deeper and manage to extract more toxins via sweat, which is a myth. Even the claim of‘full spectrum’ could be a false or misleading one. On a balance, Ari feels that a traditional sauna is probably better and more beneficial for health than some of the other types available.
It was definitely informative and illuminating to chat with Ari Whitten about his work and his advice for getting naturally healthier. Listen to my interview with Ari in this episode of The Adiel Gorel Show where he also recommends some specific brands of saunas. Don’t miss it!
