How Low-E Glass Could Be Affecting People with MCS, Fatigue, or Chronic Illness
We’re told to stay inside for safety. Keep cool in the summer, warm in the winter. Use energy-efficient windows to save on electricity. But what if this “efficiency” is stealing something vital from your body?
If you live with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), chronic fatigue, or unexplained energy crashes, there may be more going on than just chemical exposures. You might be missing a fundamental nutrient: natural light.
☀️ What Is Low-E Glass?
Low-E (“low emissivity”) glass is used in modern windows to reflect heat. While this may help your electric bill, it also blocks a significant amount of full-spectrum and infrared light—the very light your body needs to thrive.
That includes UVB light, which is necessary for your body to produce vitamin D, and infrared light, which fuels your mitochondria—your cellular energy engines.
🔋 Why Light—Especially Infrared—Matters
- Infrared light boosts ATP production, helping your cells create usable energy (source)
- It supports tissue repair, immune function, and inflammation regulation
- UVB light is the trigger for natural vitamin D production, which impacts everything from mood to bone health
Low-E glass reduces your exposure to both. Over time, this can impact everything from your energy levels to your immune resilience.
😴 Feeling Tired Indoors? This Could Be Why.
If you live with chronic illness or MCS, you might already avoid outdoor spaces to protect yourself from fragrances or chemicals. But staying behind Low-E glass 24/7 can leave you light-deprived, even if your room looks bright.
Light isn’t just about vision—it’s about cellular fuel and hormonal balance. Your mitochondria depend on it.
🌞 Morning Sunlight = Natural Medicine
One of the easiest ways to reset your body is by going outside first thing in the morning. Within 30–60 minutes of waking, try to get 20–30 minutes of sunlight on your skin and eyes (no sunglasses or windows in the way).
This supports your health by:
- Triggering vitamin D production through UVB exposure (NIH)
- Resetting your circadian rhythm (source)
- Supporting serotonin and cortisol balance
- Filling your cells with infrared energy that boosts healing
If full outdoor walks aren’t doable, even sitting near an open window or on your porch can make a difference.
✅ How to Get More Healing Light Daily
- 🌅 Open your windows at sunrise and sunset to let in full-spectrum light
- 💡 Swap LED bulbs for incandescent or halogen in rooms you spend time in
- 🔴 Try near-infrared or full-spectrum therapy lights indoors
- 👣 Take a short walk or sit outside in the morning light
- 🕶️ Avoid sunglasses during early light exposure, if safe for you
💛 Final Thought
If you’ve been doing all the right things—removing toxins, eating clean, using non-toxic products—but still feel tired, anxious, or wired… It may be time to look at your light environment.
Healing isn’t just about removing what harms you. It’s about reintroducing what your body was designed to receive. And light—real, natural light—is one of the most powerful healing tools you have.
Share this post with someone who’s always tired indoors, or leave a comment below if you’ve noticed a difference in how your body responds to sunlight.
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