Study: Waking to the Light From Electronics Has Positive Effect

The last thing in the world you'd ever think is that having our electronic devices around when we wake up would be good for us, but it just might be.

New research seems to indicate that exposure to the blue light that comes from our computers and cell phones might trigger a chemical reaction in our bodies that helps us be more alert when were getting up in the morning.

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute had a group of teenagers sleep for only 4.5-hours three nights, and had them awaken to either dim natural light or blue light. Here's what they found:

Teens who woke up to the blue light had nearly double the level of cortisol, the stress hormone, as those who woke up to the dim light.

Elevated levels of cortisol throughout the day have a negative impact on the body, but having a morning peak of the hormone resets your cardiac rhythm, and syncs your body to the day, warming it up for the stresses ahead.

I'm no researcher, but if you're waking up with MORE of the stress hormone, how is that a good thing?