Flu Season Is Starting Early: The Surprising Role Sunlight May Play in Immunity & Inflammation with Roger Seheult, MD

This episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth, BiOptimizers, Momentous, and Bon Charge.
Today on The Dhru Purohit Show, we are revisiting an episode with quadruple board-certified physician Dr. Roger Seheult to explore an often-overlooked pillar of health: light. With flu season getting an early start, it’s a timely conversation about emerging research on how sunlight and infrared light may support immune function, mitochondrial health, and brain health, and why modern life leaves so many of us missing out. Dr. Seheult shares simple ways to bring more natural light into our daily routines and explains how sunlight, nutrition, exercise, and rest work together to support long-term well-being.
Dr. Roger Seheult is a quadruple board-certified physician in internal medicine, pulmonary diseases, critical care, and sleep medicine. He serves as an Associate Clinical Professor at UC Riverside and an Assistant Clinical Professor at Loma Linda University. He practices at Optum California as a critical care, pulmonary, and sleep specialist, directs a sleep lab, and serves as Medical Director for the Crafton Hills College Respiratory Care Program. He is also the co-founder of MedCram, whose CME-accredited medical education videos are used by hospitals, medical schools, and millions of clinicians worldwide.
In this episode, Dhru and Dr. Seheult dive into:
(00:00) Introduction
(1:39) The overlooked “nutrient” your body is starving for
(6:10) How infrared light supercharges your mitochondria
(9:56) The hidden link between light and cognitive decline
(13:35) COVID-19 treatment with light therapy
(16:22) Healing power of sunlight
(26:07) Why low sunlight may drive weight gain and obesity
(40:21) The surprising reason flu season even exists
(52:45) Eight Laws of Health
(1:03:49) Morning light hacks when you can’t get outside
(1:06:58) Benefits of leaving windows open
(1:10:30) Beating the afternoon slump
(1:16:17) Red light devices and their limitations
(1:23:57) Light Deficiency: The Modern Scurvy
(1:26:37) Final takeaways to reboot your relationship with light
Also mentioned in this episode:
Longer wavelengths in sunlight pass through the human body and have a systemic impact which improves vision
Cardiopulmonary and hematological effects of infrared LED photobiomodulation in the treatment of SARS-COV2
Higher ultraviolet light exposure is associated with lower mortality
Brighter nights and darker days predict higher mortality risk
For more on Dr. Seheult, follow him on Facebook, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, or visit his Website.
For more on Dhru: Instagram, X/Twitter, YouTube, and KOMI.
This episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth, BiOptimizers, Momentous, and Bon Charge.
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*Nothing discussed in this podcast should be construed as medical advice; always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual health needs.
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