How we’ve been conned into using CFL bulbs, and why you should get rid of them ASAP

Beware of this sleep-stealer the feds are forcing on you

How many members of Congress does it take to change a light bulb?

Or — rather, how many did it take to get you to change your light bulbs?

That old familiar bulb that we’ve been using all these years — well, it’s now become public enemy number one.

It’s all due to a crazy “energy” act that started years ago. And the result is that the incandescent bulb is all but gone. The last two versions bit the dust last month.

So what did the geniuses who passed this law want us to do? Why, switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, of course! We can all save the world that way!

And what’s wrong with those fusilli-shaped CFL bulbs?

Just about everything. Believe it or not, even the tree-huggers are starting to cry, “Houston, we have a problem.”

I’ve already told you about the mercury danger, the disposal nightmare, and the health risks these things have created.

But this is one of the most important reasons that these bulbs need to be taken out of your home. They may actually be making it impossible to get a good night’s sleep.

Singing the blues

Feeling fuzzy-headed and worn out the next day is just the tip of the iceberg. You can also be setting yourself up for heart disease, obesity, diabetes…the list goes on and on.

And sleeping well is all about melatonin, a hormone we naturally produce that helps us get our ZZZs.

Enter the CFL…

CFL bulbs emit a “blue” wavelength of light that’s a wake-up call to the brain. The light may not look blue to you, but it does to a part of your eye that controls your sleep and wake cycles. These very light-sensitive cells in your retina tell your brain if it’s time for sleep or time to be awake.

A few hours after sunset your brain’s pineal gland does its job and starts producing melatonin. This gland is put into action by cycles of light and darkness.

But you can unknowingly zap that production by using CFLs inside your house — especially in your bedroom.

The amount of melatonin you produce plays a big role in how well you sleep– and how often you wake up — during the night.

Think of these CFLs as giving off “morning light.” So they wake your brain up just as you are getting ready for bed.

If you’ve recently been shopping for light bulbs, I know, there seem to be hundreds to choose from now. A simple purchase has become a job for a rocket scientist.

If you can’t find any more of the old ones (in stores that stockpiled a good supply while they still could), go for the LEDs. And not just any LED, but one with a warm light similar to what we are all used to from the familiar incandescent bulbs.

Look for a lower “K scale” number toward the “warm” end on the “lighting facts” label that’s now on all bulb packages. The lower the K number, the less blue light the bulb gives off.

Sources:
“Blue light has a dark side” Harvard Health Publications, May, 2012, health.harvard.edu