Health Benefits of Melatonin

Recent studies suggest that the health benefits of melatonin may include more than previously known. Many use this particular supplement to aid in getting better sleep, but science now shows that it can do more than provide more restful nights. Promising new research indicates that the effects of melatonin may also help to improve the end result of treatment for some cancer patients. In addition, other uses of melatonin include protecting the central nervous system from the harmful effects of various diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Melatonin is naturally created by the brain and secreted by a tiny gland called the pineal gland. For decades, scientists have been fascinated by melatonin’s power to effectively align the rhythms of the body. It is this set of natural rhythms that assist in the setting of the human biological clock.

The primary factor that affects melatonin production is light, which significantly diminishes the amount of the hormone produced within your brain. On the other hand, darkness affects your brain in the opposite way, resulting in an increase in the secretion of melatonin. Fortunately for individuals with skewed sleep routines, melatonin supplements are available for purchase at drug and grocery stores. These supplements help to safely restore your body’s circadian rhythms and promote a more balanced, healthy sense of well-being.

Benefits For Body And Mind

Melatonin helps to protect essential proteins and lipids against damaging free radicals within your body. Many antioxidants are incapable of diffusing into all cells, which renders them less than ideally effective. Fortunately, melatonin is able to permeate all types of cells and cross the barrier that lies between blood and the brain, allowing for even more complete protection.

Unfortunately, the levels of melatonin that are naturally secreted by the brain do decline with age, which leaves older people with decreased protection against potentially degenerative conditions. Incorporating a supplement that includes melatonin may help these individuals enhance the level of protection their bodies and brains receive, thus decreasing the chances that they will suffer from stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s.

Another advantage of including melatonin in your daily regimen may be that of lowering one of the major risk factors associated with stroke: high blood pressure. If elevated blood pressure is a problem for you or for someone you know, then the health benefits of melatonin may prove to be the natural remedy you seek.

Cancer Fighting Benefits

Of all of the benefits associated with supplementing with melatonin, one of the most significant uses is that which regards the fighting of cancer. Many cancers have been shown to react positively when treated, in part, with this hormone, including brain, breast, and liver cancers.

In addition, new research indicates that treatment with melatonin may positively impact a common cancer in men: prostate cancer. Treatment with melatonin has been shown to substantially diminish the number of cancerous cells within the prostate, while remaining cells continued to show characteristics and behavior of healthy cells. Thusly, future experimentation and use of melatonin may actually prove effective against aggressive prostate cancers. Even after cancer treatment has been completed, melatonin may still be of service to post-cancer patients. Research shows that it may help to balance out the levels of toxicity within the body during and after chemotherapy.

Prevention of Migraine Headaches

An encouraging study states that sufferers of chronic migraines may also benefit from the addition of supplemental melatonin. Research has shown that some patients might be able to decrease the severity of their migraine pain by using melatonin. If you are a frequent migraine sufferer and have questions regarding the potential health benefits of this supplement in relation to your headaches, it is recommended that you consult your healthcare physician concerning your specific case.

Healthy Sleep Patterns

Getting sufficient sleep is undeniably necessary to maintain quality of life and good health. However, due to a variety of reasons, many people do experience difficulty in obtaining the proper amount of sleep. These reasons can include work that lasts for long hours into the night, disruptive conditions such as overactive bladder, and chronic insomnia. Older adults may find that they are more susceptible to trouble with getting to sleep and staying asleep, primarily due to the decreased production of melatonin in their later years. The use of melatonin can potentially help to provide more regular sleep patterns for some individuals, no matter the reason behind their lack of sleep.

Jet lag, or the fatigue associated with flying through and to different time zones, can cause lethargy and inability to function normally for days after arrival at the new location. It has been shown that melatonin can help in the prevention or reduction of this phenomenon by helping to coordinate the body’s natural physiological rhythms.

Conclusion

Long appreciated as a key element in restful, rejuvenating sleep, melatonin has recently been shown to protect and promote your health in a number of other invaluable ways. The health benefits of melatonin are only beginning to be utilized to their fullest potential, and will undoubtedly continue to play a crucial role in the development of treatments and cures for a wide range of diseases and ailments.