A Good Nights Sleep Can Help Prevent Cancer!

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Sat, 21 Oct 2006 16:44:12 -0000

A Good Nights Sleep Can Help Prevent Cancer!

 

 

 

 

 

Concentrating your focus on your sleep habits could help to prevent

cancer, believe it or not! It has been known for years that how well

you sleep may drastically alter the stability of hormones in the human

body. Shifts from balanced hormones can disturb your sleep/wake cycle,

also referred to as the circadian rhythm. An altered circadian rhythm

may affect how cancer progresses through shifts in hormones like

melatonin, which the brain manufactures during sleep.

 

Investigative research discovered in Brain Behavior Immunology October

2003 suggested having a normal circadian rhythm may be vital in order

for your body to protect against cancer. It further suggested

sleep/wake rhythms that are thrown off due to stress or other issues

may encourage the growth of cancer.

 

The antioxidant melatonin has properties that aide in the suppression

of destructive free radicals in the body and it decreases the

manufacturing of estrogen, which can trigger cancer. When circadian

rhythm's become upset, it may create a smaller amount melatonin and

therefore may have a decreased ability to protect against cancer.

Light exposure throughout the evening can also lessen melatonin

levels, hence making it imperative to sleep in total darkness to

reduce the risk of cancer. An additional association between cancer

and an upset circadian rhythm deals with the hormone cortisol, which

regularly reaches its highest levels at dawn then drops during the

day. Cortisol is only one of numerous hormones that assist in

regulating immune system function, including the activity of immune

cells called natural-killer cells that aide the body fighting cancer.

 

One more mechanism that might be connected to the cancer/sleep

relationship is the hormone insulin. Scientific researchers from the

University of Chicago have time and again shown that a lack of sleep

will culminate in an elevated rate of diabetes due to heightened

insulin resistance, and insulin has been obviously connected to cancer

in studies held prior.

 

Sleep is extremely important as outlined in the best-seller Cracking

the Cancer Code. It has continuously been shown that not enough rest

will result in elevated rates of cancer and diabetes, while optimizing

your sleep may dramatically slow down aging in general. Below are some

tips and guidelines that will allow you to maximize and get the proper

amount of sleep your body requires.

 

ü Absolutely no TV right before bed. TV, or any light for that

matter, can disturb your circadian rhythm and your pineal gland's

manufacturing of melatonin and seratonin.

 

ü Our body's natural biorhythm is to experience sleep roughly

around 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The lights should be out by 10 p.m. and you

should " rise-and-shine " by 6 a.m. Those who find this difficult, be

aware that individuals normally followed this pattern before the

electricity was ever conceived.

 

ü Avoid electro-magnetic fields (EMFs) in the bedroom. A few

examples are cell phones, microwaves, TV's, computers, some alarm

clocks, etc. All of these can disturb the pineal gland and the

manufacture of melatonin and seratonin, as well as contributing to

other negative effects as well.

 

ü Avoid late-night and before bedtime snacks, especially grains

and sugars. These will elevate blood sugar and deter sleep. After

awhile, when blood sugar drops too low, you may wake up and have

trouble falling asleep again.

 

ü Lessen your mental activity after dinner. Journaling might help

in this process by allowing you to put your worries on paper and get

them out of your mind.

 

ü Plan for the following day, like formulating what you intend to

get done, so it's not on your mind all night.

 

ü Avoid alcohol at all costs. Even though alcohol will make

individuals drowsy, the effect doesn't last that long and people will

frequently wake up many hours later and be incapable of getting back

to sleep. Consuming alcohol will also keep you from experiencing the

deep stages of sleep, where the human body performs much of its healing.

 

ü Soak in a hot bath for up to an hour with relaxing fragrances

(vanilla, sandalwood, lavender) 30 minutes prior to retiring. Use the

bath to let go of your daily stress, include soothing lights and music

and massage your body with oils.

 

ü Your bed should be used for only sleep and sex. Even reading

should be done elsewhere, unless it has a calming effect, such as

spiritual literature.

 

ü Make sure to turn all lights off. Rest on your back or side and

pay attention to the way your body feels as well as to your breathing.

 

ü Try reciting a mantra for five minutes. This could be some sort

of favorite sound or prayer that you recite continuously.

 

ü I recommend reducing or avoiding as many drugs as possible.

Numerous medications, both prescription and over-the-counter might

have effects on sleep as listed under side effects.

 

ü If you have difficulty sleeping in your bed, try another area

in your house.

 

Refrain from using loud alarm clocks. It is extremely stressful on the

body to be awoken abruptly. If you are regularly getting enough sleep,

they should be unnecessary. Sun alarm clocks or ones that have a

progressive nature sound are the best ones have.

 

For more information on how to beat cancer naturally, read Cracking

the Cancer Code by Dr. Matthew Loop.