Just got a bit of free time today, thought of writing something which pop up my mind spontaneously. Had a busy week last week, looking forward to this coming week, and today, it will be a topic of our biological rhythms. I had blogged earlier about sleep and circadian rhythm, but I thought of sharing a bit more information to whoever is reading this right now.
Although it may not be apparent to a layperson, the human body is largely run by biological rhythms. All organs, systems, and cells are controlled by exact cyclic patterns of rest and activity, which we can call, the 'universe laws of live'. Some of you might think "are you serious?" or "yeah right". Well, to believe it or not, it's all up to you, everyone has the freedom to choose what to believe and decide what's right for them.
Now, the following are a few examples of the biological rhythms that follow these laws.
- Normal menstrual cycles repeat themselves every 27.5 days.
- The stress hormones cortisol and and adrenaline are naturally released into the bloodstream during early morning hours to promote physical activity.
- Immunity and iron concentrations in the blood reach low levels in women during menstruation and high levels during ovulation.
- The liver is more active during the night than it is during the day.
- Red bone marrow produces more blood cells during the night.
- Most digestive enzymes are secreted during the day.
- Bile secretion peaks during the midday.
- The large bowel is most active and efficient during the early morning hours.
- Different types of cells have different types of lifespans and are turned over at specific intervals.
- The 'happy' producing neurotransmitter seratonin is produced in response to daylight.
- The sleep inducing hormone melatonin is secreted in response to the darkness.
It is estimated that over 1000 of these biological rhythms operate in control the human body. Each biological timer dictates a specific rhythm or cyclic behavior to a group of cells, an organ or endocrine gland. The various individual timers or body clocks are intrinsically linked to a common master clock. The master clock coordinates the individual clocks with one another and makes certain that every activity in the body is carried out according to its master plan. This master plan consists of nothing but the body's constant effort to maintain perfect equilibrium or balance. In order words, homeostasis.
The body's master clock is controlled by nature's most influential cycle, known as circadian rhythm.The circadian rhythm prompts us to become more active in the morning and to wind down in the evening. The sun, is the main giver of life on the planet. Both organic and inorganic life forms require sunlight and sun energy for their existence, and so do all human beings. The movements of the Earth on its axis and around the sun create the precise cycles of day and night, as well as seasonal changes. These rhythmic repetitive patterns of the forces in nature, in turn, program our DNA to conduct all physical activities with precision and ideal accurate timing.
All external events occurring in the natural world are linked with similar events inside the body. A sunrise in nature, for example, triggers a 'sunrise' in your body. It wakes you up and gets you going. The morning light enters your eyes as soon as you open them. First, the light is broken down into its full color spectrum by the lenses of your eyes. Immediately, the individual light rays travel to the body's master gland, the hypothalamus. Then, the hypothalamus, which controls the body's biological clock, dispatches light-coded messages to the pineal gland, which is sometimes referred to as 'the third eye'. These messages contain specific instructions for the pineal gland to secrete hormones.
One of the pineal gland's most powerful hormones is melatonin. The secretion of melatonin follows a regular 24 hr rhythm. Melatonin production reaches peak levels between 1 and 3am and drops to its lowest at midday. The pineal gland secretes this hormone directly into the bloodstream, which makes it instantly available to all the cells in the body and tells them 'what time it is' in nature, meaning, what position on Earth is in related to the sun. It also tells a specific gene in the DNA of every single cell when it is time for it to die and be replaced by a new cell. Without the timely secretion of melatonin, the timeless of normal cell division become extended and cancer cells develop, according to the latest cancer research.
The brain synthesizes another important neurotransmittor, seratonin, which relates to our state of well being. I've previously wrote and discussed about 4 important mood zones or so called 'brain chemicals', I think about a year ago. Please read it if you would want to know more about how to feel good, happy, positive, confident and overcome your depression or perhaps any other mental condition, particularly mood swings in women. Now, back to seratonin, arguably the most critical neurotransmitter for our brain. It has a powerful influence on day and night rhythms, sexual behavior, memory, appetite, impulsiveness, fear, and even suicidal tendencies.
Unlike melatonin, seratonin increases with the light of day, with peak secretions at midday, and also through physical exercise and of course, amino acid L-Tryptophan from primarily animal based foods. It is very interesting to note that over 90% of this extremely important neurotransmittor is actually made in your gut, and not your brain. This gut/brain connection shows how crucial eating the proper good food and healthy digestive functions are for the overall well being of both the mind and the body, and vice versa.
The increasing and decreasing levels of melatonin and seratonin indicate to the cells whether it is dark of light outside and whether they should be more active or slow down their activities. This intricate mechanism ensures that all physical functions are synchronized with the rhythmic changes that occur in the natural environment. That is known as 'entrainment'. The health of each cell in the body depends, therefore, on the degree to which we allow the body to be in harmony with the cycles of day and night.
Any deviation from the circadian rhythm causes abnormal secretions of the hormones melatonin and seratonin. This hormonal imbalance, in turn, leads to erratic biological rhythms, which can subsequently disrupt the harmonious functioning of of the entire organism, including digestion of food, cell metabolism and overall hormonal balance. Suddenly, we may feel 'out of sync' or shaky and become susceptible to developing an illness, which could include a simple cold, headache, depression or even a cancerous tumor.
One of the pineal gland's most powerful hormones is melatonin. The secretion of melatonin follows a regular 24 hr rhythm. Melatonin production reaches peak levels between 1 and 3am and drops to its lowest at midday. The pineal gland secretes this hormone directly into the bloodstream, which makes it instantly available to all the cells in the body and tells them 'what time it is' in nature, meaning, what position on Earth is in related to the sun. It also tells a specific gene in the DNA of every single cell when it is time for it to die and be replaced by a new cell. Without the timely secretion of melatonin, the timeless of normal cell division become extended and cancer cells develop, according to the latest cancer research.
The brain synthesizes another important neurotransmittor, seratonin, which relates to our state of well being. I've previously wrote and discussed about 4 important mood zones or so called 'brain chemicals', I think about a year ago. Please read it if you would want to know more about how to feel good, happy, positive, confident and overcome your depression or perhaps any other mental condition, particularly mood swings in women. Now, back to seratonin, arguably the most critical neurotransmitter for our brain. It has a powerful influence on day and night rhythms, sexual behavior, memory, appetite, impulsiveness, fear, and even suicidal tendencies.
Unlike melatonin, seratonin increases with the light of day, with peak secretions at midday, and also through physical exercise and of course, amino acid L-Tryptophan from primarily animal based foods. It is very interesting to note that over 90% of this extremely important neurotransmittor is actually made in your gut, and not your brain. This gut/brain connection shows how crucial eating the proper good food and healthy digestive functions are for the overall well being of both the mind and the body, and vice versa.
The increasing and decreasing levels of melatonin and seratonin indicate to the cells whether it is dark of light outside and whether they should be more active or slow down their activities. This intricate mechanism ensures that all physical functions are synchronized with the rhythmic changes that occur in the natural environment. That is known as 'entrainment'. The health of each cell in the body depends, therefore, on the degree to which we allow the body to be in harmony with the cycles of day and night.
Any deviation from the circadian rhythm causes abnormal secretions of the hormones melatonin and seratonin. This hormonal imbalance, in turn, leads to erratic biological rhythms, which can subsequently disrupt the harmonious functioning of of the entire organism, including digestion of food, cell metabolism and overall hormonal balance. Suddenly, we may feel 'out of sync' or shaky and become susceptible to developing an illness, which could include a simple cold, headache, depression or even a cancerous tumor.
The pineal gland controls reproduction, sleep and motor activity, blood pressure, the immune system, the pituitary and thyroid glands, cellular growth, body temperature, and many other vital functions. All of these depend on the regular melatonin cycle which, yet again, is controlled by our body's ability to be in synchronous with nature's rhythms. The amount of melatonin made available to the body in response to the darkness of the night depends on the concentration of seratonin secreted in response to the amount of natural light we are exposed to during the day. As daylight diminishes, seratonin is automatically 'broken down' into melatonin.
If your body makes a good amount of seratonin from natural light, it will also produces sufficient amounts of melatonin during the nighttime, provided your eyes are closed. The pineal gland starts secreting melatonin between around 9.30 to 10.30pm, depending on your age. Unless you use stimulants such as caffeine or food at that time, melatonin naturally induces sleepiness or drowsiness.
Melatonin may even slow the affects of aging, according to a study by Spanish Aging Research Network. With sufficiently high amount of melatonin in the blood, the body is able to regenerate and rejuvenate itself. This sustain good health, vitality and longevity.
The cycles of melatonin and seratonin totally depending on each other, and are precisely controlled by our changing environment. By disregarding these rhythmic changes in nature and living against these unspoken laws, the body and mind surely move out of sync with one another. This is a leading cause of physical and mental health.
A lot of people might not realize, but one of the greatest secrets of good health lies in the discovery of our intimate relationship with the universe. I'm talking about nature, any sense of separation between nature and us can only exist in the mind, not in the body. The body has formed an essential link with external world. Till then, take care.
If your body makes a good amount of seratonin from natural light, it will also produces sufficient amounts of melatonin during the nighttime, provided your eyes are closed. The pineal gland starts secreting melatonin between around 9.30 to 10.30pm, depending on your age. Unless you use stimulants such as caffeine or food at that time, melatonin naturally induces sleepiness or drowsiness.
Melatonin may even slow the affects of aging, according to a study by Spanish Aging Research Network. With sufficiently high amount of melatonin in the blood, the body is able to regenerate and rejuvenate itself. This sustain good health, vitality and longevity.
The cycles of melatonin and seratonin totally depending on each other, and are precisely controlled by our changing environment. By disregarding these rhythmic changes in nature and living against these unspoken laws, the body and mind surely move out of sync with one another. This is a leading cause of physical and mental health.
A lot of people might not realize, but one of the greatest secrets of good health lies in the discovery of our intimate relationship with the universe. I'm talking about nature, any sense of separation between nature and us can only exist in the mind, not in the body. The body has formed an essential link with external world. Till then, take care.
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