Food and Sleep

Saturated fat, cholesterol and sugar have been demonised as dietary components that increase risk of dying from premature heart disease. However, there is considerable confusion and controversy over the effects of these dietary components on our cardiovascular health. This talk will attempt to explain and resolve some of the confusion surrounding the effects of saturated fat, cholesterol and sugar on our health. It will also critically examine the controversial evidence in support of the foods that we should be eating or avoiding to protect ourselves from heart disease.

For most of us, the daily light exposure includes outdoor natural and indoor artificial light, with the latter being predominant and constantly available. There is growing evidence for the effects of light on brain function and health. Researchers at the Surrey Sleep Research Centre at the University of Surrey have found that the evening light we are exposed to in an indoor environment affects our biological clock and disrupts sleep quality. This in turn has implications in our daily lives at home and at work.