Anti-aging Concepts

Melatonin

2009-08-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

Scientific Name and Description

N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine,

Melatonin in produced by the Pinealocytes cells inside the pineal gland

Description

Melatonin is a hormone that is produced by the pineal gland that is about the size of a pea and is located in the center of the brain. Melatonin is used to regulate the sleeping cycle.

The pineal gland functions as a biological clock by secreting melatonin at night. The above chart shows the peak of melatonin at around 2 to 3 in the morning. Younger healthy people tend to peak at 2 a.m, while the elderly it is at 3 a.m.

Women going through menopause can also experience hormonal fluctuation that can cause a disturbance in their sleeping cycle that is linked to melatonin.

Melatonin Decreases with Age

Jet-Lag and Bad Sleeping Habits

Jet-lag is a condition caused by disruption of the biological clock. It changes your sleep-wake cycle when crossing several time zones during travel, and also when working rotating, night work or staying up late. Even just leaving the light on at night can decrease melatonin levels causing a disruption in your sleep cycle.

Symptoms of Decreased Melatonin

The following symptoms maybe be the result of decreased melatonin:

Fatigue
Early Awakening
Insomnia
Headaches
Fuzzy thinking
Irritability
Constipation
Reduced Immunity

Melatonin and Your Health

Melatonin has been credited in improving health and preventing disease. The following diseases are list below:

Alzheimer's Disease
Osteoporosis
Arthritis
Cancer
Heart Disease
Suppressed Immune System
Stress and Anxiety related Diseases
Rapid Aging

Depression and SAD

Depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder are known to diminish nighttime release of melatonin and abnormal sensitivity to melatonin suppression by light, principally the blue light is the one that is the suppressor of melatonin. Studies have shown that melatonin has positive results for treating depression and SAD.

Can we reset our body clocks with Melatonin?

Most people's body clock will reset by taking melatonin. It is best taken in the evening after sunset or around 30-45 minutes before bedtime.

Will Melatonin help you sleep better?

Yes. Many have reported that it helped put them to sleep and that their sleep was more soundly. Melatonin use is most likely to be more effective with the older population then the younger. By the time your 60 years old your pineal gland is producing only a fraction of melatonin compared to a 20 year old.

Natural alternatives to taking Melatonin

A better way to increase your natural melatonin levels is by eating tryptophan rich foods like turkey, milk, bananas and eggs. When eaten tryptophan forms serotonin which converts to melatonin. Another way to stimulate melatonin is to get enough sunlight in the daytime, especially in the morning.

Does Melatonin Improve Mental Performance?

Yes. Studies have confirmed that when melatonin is taken at bedtime the night before, the following morning there has been evidence of improved mental performance.

Obesity

Research has confirmed that melatonin is involved in the regulation of body weight. When combined with calcium, melatonin may be helpful in treating weight problems like obesity.

Life Extension

Melatonin has been shown to improve immune system function and extend lifespan. Melatonin was administered each evening before sleep. The treated subjects become more healthy. They had better posture, increased activity levels and thicker and lustrous hair.

Melatonin secretion drops off naturally with age. This age related reduction may account why many older people have difficulty sleeping at night, and why are are so fatigued during the daytime.

Administration of melatonin was found to increase lifespan by about 20%.

Antioxidant Properties

Besides it's primary function as a biological clock regulator, melatonin also exerts powerful antioxidant properties. Melatonin is an antioxidant that has demonstrated to prevent damage to DNA by some carcinogens that cause cancer. It also has been effective in protecting against brain injury or damage caused by oxidative stress such as UV or heat exposure. Oxidative damage in the brain is caused by free radicals, a natural byproduct of normal metabolism of oxygen during times of excessive environmental stress.

Anti Stress

Administration of melatonin can also counteract the immune suppressing effects of acute anxiety. Thymus weight, antibody production, and the ability to fight of lethal infection was measured and confirmed in studies.

Immune System

Studies have shown that melatonin might be useful in fighting infectious disease including viruses like HIV and bacterial infections.

Alzheimer's Disease

Studies have found there are reduced levels of melatonin in the cerebrospinal fluid in people who have Alzheimer's disease compared to healthy subjects. It is possible that restoration of melatonin levels in Alzheimer's patients may be effective in treating the disease.

Cancer Treatment

Studies have shown that melatonin appears to inhibit growth of different types of tumors. Based on its effects on the immune system, melatonin could be used in association with other anti-cancer treatments.

ADHD

Studies have shown that after administration of melatonin to Attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder patients, the time needed to fall asleep is significantly reduced.

Fertility

Studies have found that melatonin administration in the evening in premenopausal woman has restored fertility, menstruation and prevented depression associated with menopause. It is also believed that melatonin has an effect on sexual development.

Headaches

Research has shown that melatonin is an effective preventive for cluster headaches and migraines.

Gallbladder Stones

Studies have shown that presence of melatonin in the gallbladder has many protective properties like converting cholesterol into bile, increasing the mobility of gallstones from the gallbladder, preventing oxidative stress and even decreases the amount of cholesterol produced in the gallbladder by regulating cholesterol that passes through the intestinal wall.

Sunlight and Electromagnetism

Sunlight is the primary influence that regulates the internal clock and the associated melatonin hormone levels in the body. There is evidence that the earth's magnetic field may also be an environmental signal affecting circadian rhythm in the body.

Exposure to electromagnetic fields from appliances and high-voltage power lines may be even more significant in suppressing melatonin levels then though before.

Dosage

Dosage can very from person to person ranging from 0.1 to 200 mg depending on the level of natural melatonin in the body. Age will play a big role on how much dosage will be used. Patients will usually start from 1 mg and increase until desired effect has been reached. Average dosage is between 3 and 10 mg.

Controlling Diabetes Naturally

2009-02-08T12:51:00.000-08:00

Diabetes can be divided into two categories

Diabetes mellitus

The body is unable to make insulin. Insulin converts the sugar from the body into energy source. The patient is insulin dependent. This type of diabetes is very prevalent among young children, young and adults.

Diabetes insipdus

Results due to insulin defective in insulin production and tissues resist to insulin production. Controlling diet and doing moderate physical exercises can control type two diabetes.

Causes of diabetes are the excessive eating of foods containing sugar, obesity, lack of exercise, tension and stress and heredity.

Avoid :

1. Consumption of sugar in large quantity for long time may lead to blood sugar level complications

2. Don't take fatty food, take fruits and vegetables containing fiber. Fiber reduces blood sugar levels.

3. Direct sugar intake (sugars found in raw fruits or whole grains react on the body differently). Avoid direct sugar intake.

4. Avoid white flour based food products increases the chances of diabetes and it will increase the blood sugar level.

5. Diabetes must be checked regularly, blood sugar levels can be dangerous and fatal if it is ignored.

Drugs can have severe side effects like head reeling, shivering, tiredness, dizziness and skin allergy. So it is better to go the natural treatment method using natural products for the treatment of diabetes.

Here are some exemples:

Cayenne: works as health tonic and tones blood circulation.

Dandelion: It takes care of the liver, which breaks nutrients into glucose.

Kidney Beans: Helps in detoxifying the pancreases.

Uranium Nitrate: this remedy helps in reducing sugar level in the blood and helps in digestion.

Phosphoric acid: When the urination is increased and the color of urine is milky containing sugar,
phosphoric acid to be thought of. It is a great remedy to cure diabetes mellitus when it is rudimentary stage.

Lactic acid: one of the best remedies for diabetes due to gastric origin. The symptoms are frequent urine; urine is yellow, much thirst, nausea and debility, dry skin, much gas in stomach and dry tongue. If these symptoms are present then lactic acid is the best remedy for it.

Acetic acid: it helps to reduce frequent urination and it also abates severe thirst and dry skin.

Bryonia: For symptoms like bitterness in the taste , dryness of the lips and weakness.

Treatment of through Homeopathic Medicines.

Homeopathy medicines are also effective.

Also there are other remedies such as Chionanthus and Argentum mettalicium good for the treatment of diabetes.

Diabetes can be controlled and a person can lead normal life if he or she takes care of themselves by adopting the right treatment.

Women who Want Attractive Breasts by Increasing their Breast Size

2009-02-08T12:48:00.000-08:00

Breasts are the most admired organs in the female body. Not all the women are blessed with attractive breasts and many of them have very tiny or little breasts.

Small breasts may not harm anybody's physique, but they are very bothering. Fortunately, there are many ways to increase your breast size.

Let's look at some important techniques to increase the size of your breasts:

Application of Sesame Oil: Application of Sesame oil are likely to increase in volume, size and also come up in shape. Sesame oil is said to penetrate easily into the skin to shape and tone the breasts. It is reported that Sesame oil nourishes the breast cells and reshapes them.

Also Regular exercises keep the pectoralis muscles in a proper shape and toned. Pectoralis muscles are the muscles that are attached to the breast making them very important in your exercise regime. When a woman performances regular exercising, the pectoralis muscles are strengthened and they support breasts in a much better way.

Surgery is one of the options that can offer the woman to increase her breast size.

Breast increasing therapies and supplements is quite possible using some blends of natural herbal extracts that possess estrogenic properties. The market is full of breast supplements in the form of local application, such as cream, gel, spray and oil.

So there are alot of ways that you can increase your breast size to have attractive breasts that men will adore.

Women who want Firm Breasts

2009-02-08T12:46:00.000-08:00

As the woman advances in her age, gravity starts to take its toll on female's body, particularly the organ that are considered to be best assets of the female body, the breasts.

There are many ways to have firm breasts like from wearing Push-up brasseries to surgeries and lots of home or natural remedies, but woman can do something about their sagging or drooping breasts.

Let us learn some effective techniques to have firm breasts. The solution is the daily attending methods like....

Some specially designed breast firming exercises

There are many specially designed breast firming exercises that can help to have firm breasts. Massaging the breasts with the help of hands can make them firm and attractive. Simply massaging them in clockwise and then in anticlockwise gives them a shape and perfect size.

The application of ice massage

Application of ice pack is useful, but some beauty experts suggest that ice packs are to be followed with hot packs. Simply put, a woman should apply both alternatively. This makes good blood circulation within the breasts.

Daily health supplements to nourish and enhance breasts

Breast enhancing drugs preferably natural or herbal, are said not only to enhance the breasts but they also help in other female problems such as loss of libido, irregular menses etc.

Also holistic healing practitioners believe that meditation and yoga helps in firming breasts as they help in controlling the hormonal imbalance and make the mind, body and soul in harmony.

So there you are with some examples of how to lead the life with perfect lifestyle, healthy dietary pattern and some breast enhancing supplements to have firm breasts.

Essential Health Tips

2009-02-08T12:06:00.000-08:00

Move More

Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn. Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, but it's a stress buster.

Cut Fat

Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts and in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise.

Quit Smoking

The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960 when the Surgeon General announced that smoking was harmful to your health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products that kill. Just give up just one cigarette a week and you be smoke free in no time.

Reduce Stress

Easier said than done, stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (for example, Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; play with your dog; listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Avoid difficult people when possible.

Protect Yourself from Pollution

If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. Pollution gets in your eyes, your mouth, your nose and your lungs.

Avoid Excessive Drinking

While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer. A bottle of wine should last a long time.

Keep a Positive Mental Outlook

There's a definitive connection between living well and health and having a cheerful outlook on life. You can't be unhappy when you're smiling or singing.