Remember the name ALAN, A-L-A-N.
It’s an acronym for Artificial Light At Night. And avoid it! Functional medicine expert Dr. Sara Gottfried says, for every hour we stare at a screen before bed, the sleep hormone melatonin is suppressed for 30 minutes. And surveys show 95% of us regularly use an electronic device before bed. But suppressing melatonin disrupts sleep, impairs immune function, and increases the risk of cancer and metabolic syndrome. So what should you do instead of watching a screen? Dr. Gottfried suggests reading a book, specifically fiction, which has shown to calm the nervous system before bed.