Written by
Susan Tomassini
on
14/11/2016
You know it helps with jet lag. Maybe you’ve even used it once or twice. But did you know about its other important benefits?
Melatonin is a powerful natural hormone produced mainly by the pineal gland below the brain about an hour after you fall asleep in a fully darkened room. It helps you sleep more deeply. But it is also an antioxidant, boosting the immune system and an anti-inflammatory compound - two factors that add up to make sleep naturally healing.
Melatonin and cancer
Melatonin may also help prevent and treat cancer. It regulates levels of human oestrogen and growth hormone in the body, two critical hormones in the cancer process and it also has epigenetic (cancer-correcting) properties. It has also been found to affect oestrogen receptor sites in the body, modifying them so that ´bad´ oestrogen (human and chemical) cannot bind to them.
So it’s a super-molecule clearly involved in cancer prevention, but melatonin is also an essential part of cancer treatment, especially if the cancer is oestrogen positive - for example, most breast cancer, ovarian, endometrial, prostate, testicular, colorectal, and brain tumours. Melatonin also stimulates the production of the immune cells, particularly T-cell, Natural Killer and cytokine production and its use as a supplement during chemotherapy and radiotherapy reduces damage to the precursors of both white and red blood cells.
The mind-body connection
The pineal gland – from where melatonin is secreted – is known as the “Third Eye” in Eastern medicine. It has long been associated with intuition and the energy chakra. Hence, the function of your pineal gland may be damaged by electrical, magnetic and energetic frequencies – both outside and inside your body.
We also know that the pineal gland is linked to circadian and seasonal rhythms, as well as our sleeping habits. It even affects the bacteria in your gut. When your pineal gland produces melatonin they produce melatonin too. This is why a heavy, late night meal disturbs your sleep. Melatonin has also been shown to be involved in the production of lymphocytes and macrophages and is thus an important factor in all illness prevention.
Do you have enough?
Studies have shown that irregular or disturbed sleeping habits and sleeping in synthetic light (think computers and phones) lower the production of melatonin and raise the risk of cancer. What’s more, melatonin regulates excess oestrogen levels and excess IGF-1 levels – both of which drive cancer. The IARC (International Research Agency on Cancer) has declared lack of sleep to be a carcinogen. Melatonin is thus an “official” anti-cancer agent.
Melatonin production is threatened as we age, by poor gut health, by alcohol, stress, disturbed sleep (night shift work, long-haul flying) and Electro-Magnetic Fields (EMFs) – like WIFI to cell phones. Fortunately it can be restored by supplementation.
So, how much should I take as a supplement?
Supplements of 1 to 3 mgs are commonly taken about 30 minutes before going to bed. Due to the growing evidence that melatonin can have an anti-cancer effect, especially when combined with chemo and radiotherapy, some people take 10 mg or more without problems – although vivid dreams and occasional hallucinations have been reported at very high doses.
For most of us, a good rule of thumb is 1 mg daily before sleep. Cancer patients, especially those with hormonally driven cancers, and those on chemotherapy or radiotherapy, may consider at least a 3 mg supplement. They can increase to 6, then 9 or more in stages. The hormone is freely available over the counter in many countries and sometimes even in supermarkets.
Need more help with your sleep problems? Foodwise can help.
Just go to: https://www.foodwise.life/program/headaches-sleep-and-fatigue