How Food, Light, & Sleep Shape Circadian Biology

For millions of years, humans lived in sync with the sun. But in just the last 150 years, we've fundamentally disrupted this ancient rhythm. Today, only 10% of Americans maintain what researchers call "good circadian health," as we've disrupted natural cycles from food to light to when we sleep. This disconnection has profound consequences. For people with chronic illness, this circadian disruption often becomes both a symptom and a perpetuating factor in their struggle to heal.

In this episode, Dr. Eric Gordon sits down with Dr. Eleanor Stein to discuss the transformative power of circadian biology. They explore strategies for reconnecting with natural light cycles, the critical importance of meal timing (which research suggests may be more important than what you eat), and techniques for gradually shifting sleep and eating windows. 

Episode Highlights:

• How circadian biology influences every major system in the body, from metabolism to immune repair, and why it’s central to chronic illness recovery.
• Why the type, intensity, and timing of light exposure can reprogram physiology in ways indoor lighting cannot.
• The emerging science shows that when you eat may be more important than what you eat.
• How every organ has its own internal clock, and what happens when those clocks fall out of sync.
• The role of environment and genetics in shaping “night owl” and “early bird” tendencies.

About Eleanor Stein, MD, FRCP(C)

Dr. Stein is a medical doctor and psychiatrist. The course of her career and life took a sudden turn when she developed ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and environmental sensitivities in 1989 during her psychiatry residency. Her expertise includes self-management, neuroplasticity, hormesis, mindset, and quantum biology.
Free Masterclass on how to use your body's internal clock to improve health https://www.eleanorsteinmd.ca/gordon-medical-circadian

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Listen in to learn more : 

(00:01) - The Transformative Power of Circadian Biology

(17:09) - Optimizing Food Timing for Health

(23:43) - Harness

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** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.