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The Circadian System and Glucose Regulation

Glucose metabolism and regulation are central to human health. We depend on a complex system to ensure that glucose is funneled to the areas where it is needed at the correct times and in the correct amounts. Many diseases, including diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome have been linked to dysregulation of glucose and insulin. New research suggests that the circadian system and glucose regulation are closely linked.

Glucose Regulation: A Primer

It is crucial to your health that glucose levels remain balanced within a very narrow range. The two hormones in charge of this are insulin and glucagon. Insulin “opens” gates in your cells so glucose leaves the bloodstream and can be used as fuel. In addition, liver cells store glucose so it can be used later. Glucagon does the exact opposite, closing gates on cells and causing the liver to release stored glucose into the bloodstream.

Once in cells, glucose is converted to usable energy in a process known as glycolysis. Glycolysis breaks down glucose into smaller carbon elements that can be used to fuel cells. In addition, some cells undergo a metabolic process called glycogenesis in which glucose is converted to a compound known as glycogen so it can be stored and used later.

The Circadian System, Glucose Regulation and Metabolism

The body controls glucose carefully because it is so important. If cells lack glucose then they starve, but too much prevents key cell processes from occurring. There are many factors involved in glucose regulation and metabolism because it is so tightly controlled. New research suggests that the circadian rhythm plays an integral role.

People who work odd shifts or otherwise have a disrupted circadian rhythm are more likely to suffer from metabolic syndrome. This is due to a newly discovered connection between the circadian system and glucose regulation and metabolism. Glucose control is intimately controlled by circadian rhythm. People who work odd hours have this system disrupted, so they have abnormal fluctuations in insulin and glucagon production. Over time, this can lead to insulin resistance, the problem underlying type 2 diabetes and a variety of metabolic diseases.

Cortisol: The Missing Link?

How exactly does circadian rhythm tie into glucose regulation? Cortisol is suspected as the main link between the circadian system and glucose. Cortisol is one of the main hormones of the circadian rhythm. It also governs blood glucose to a great extent and creates the diurnal rhythm seen in glucose and insulin levels. When people take glucocorticoid drugs that are broken down into cortisol, they often suffer problems with regulating their blood glucose as a side effect. Consistent use of glucocorticoids can lead to insulin resistance.

People who work odd shifts or otherwise live with circadian rhythm disruption have higher levels of cortisol overall. Cortisol normally peaks just before waking and declines slowly throughout the day. This is linked to the drop in insulin in the evening when cortisol levels are at their lowest. Without a normal circadian rhythm, cortisol levels drop more slowly and insulin remains high. Over time this can lead to resistance. Cortisol is likely the link between the circadian system and glucose dysregulation.

We are only just beginning to realize the effect that sleep has on us. Not only is it important to get enough sleep, but to get the right quality of sleep and at the right times. Many modern chronic diseases that are on the rise may be influenced by an epidemic of disrupted circadian rhythm in the modern world. Sleep may indeed be the best doctor and the best medicine.

Omega 3 and Antidepressants: A One-Two Punch to Knock Out Depression

May 04 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

While depression was once viewed as mere sadness, today we recognize that it is a biochemical disorder that can often be treated with medication and therapy. Unfortunately, the wide range of available depression medications sometimes fails to help patients who are suffering from this disease. New research has found that combining antidepressants with omega-3 fatty acids and other dietary supplements may be the answer for many people.

The Problem of Treatment-Resistant Depression

One of the main challenges in treating depression is that people often see only slight improvement, or even no improvement at all. Treatment-resistant depression is defined as clinical depression that does not respond to two or more different medications. Researchers and physicians have very little understanding of why some people respond to medication while others do not. It is believed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Despite huge advances in the pharmaceutical world, only half of all patients who treat depression with antidepressants alone achieve complete recovery. Even people who eventually respond to antidepressant therapies often find that it is a long process and that the medications at times only partially treat their symptoms. Because depression is a devastating illness, this can make life uncomfortable and even unbearable. For this reason, researchers have been searching for new approaches that combine antidepressants with other therapies and lifestyle changes.

Omega 3 and Antidepressants: A Winning Combination

This study looked at interactions between omega-3 fatty acids, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), methylfolate and Vitamin D with common antidepressants such as SSRIs. The results were surprising; these other health supplements may be the key to effectively treating depression in cases where medications alone are not enough. When taken with antidepressants, these supplements were shown to boost the effect of the medication, allowing more patients to gain relief from their symptoms. Omega 3 and antidepressants together were an especially effective combination, working better than the combination of pharmaceuticals and talk therapy.

What does this mean for depression treatment? Patients soon may find successful treatment who otherwise would have struggled with an incompletely treated disease. Because omega-3 fatty acids are considered part of a healthy lifestyle, there is absolutely no risk for most people.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Nature’s Anti-Inflammatory

Depression is not the only disorder in which a combination of supplements and pharmaceuticals often proves the most effective treatment. In particular, omega-3 fatty acids have been found to help with a variety of diseases and health complaints, from heart disease to type 2 diabetes. Commonly found in fish and nut oils, these fatty acids are believed to work by reducing inflammation and subduing autoimmune activity. Their exact effect on depression is still unknown, but inflammation appears to play a vital role in the development of clinical depression. While the mechanism will need to be studied further, these oils appear to be effective when combined with traditional pharmaceutical remedies.

New Approaches to Illness

Omega-3 fatty acids are just one supplement that has been recently found to be effective as an adjunct treatment for depression. Researchers and medical professionals are constantly finding new ways that diet, exercise, supplements and other lifestyle changes can have a positive effect on mood and overall health. Not only may they help protect against disease, but they may prove helpful in treating certain conditions as well. Healthy living remains the best medicine for a wide variety of disorders.

Omega 3 and antidepressants may work synergistically to stop depression in its tracks where nothing else helps. While no one should change medications without talking to their physician, this discovery may offer hope to the millions of people who suffer from clinical depression that does not respond completely to common medications.

Vitamin C Found to Significantly Cut Cataract Risk

May 02 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

When most people think of a vitamin that contributes to eye health, they think of vitamin A. However, new research reveals that vitamin C may be just as important. Scientists studying the link between vitamin C and cataracts recently discovered that getting enough of this essential nutrient may be just as important in preventing age-related eye degeneration as genetics and other well-known factors.

What Are Cataracts?

Almost one-third of Americans are affected by cataracts at some point in their lives, most commonly in old age. Cataracts are changes in the lens of the eye that lead to clouding and permanent damage. These changes are caused by gradual degeneration of tissues in the lens of the eye, as well as poor circulation and oxidative stress. People with cataracts begin to see the world as though looking through a fog. Over time, they are completely blinded. Cataracts are not only common in the United States, but are actually the most common cause of blindness worldwide. While they can often be corrected with surgery, this is a complicated and expensive procedure. As with all diseases, prevention is the best cure.

Cataracts run in families, suggesting that there is a genetic component. However, lifestyle measures have also been long suspected to play a role. Because cataracts are a common and expensive problem, researchers in the UK decided to look at different lifestyle choices and how they may affect the risk of this disease. The results were enlightening, suggesting that intake of a common vitamin may protect against cataracts as well as a variety of age-related disorders that affect vision.

Vitamin C and Cataracts

In a recent study, researchers looked not only at intake of vitamin C and cataracts, but also a range of nutrients from vitamin A to trace metals like copper. In addition, lifestyle choices such as smoking were tracked. While getting adequate nutrition is a recommended way to prevent age-related disease, vitamin C appears to be especially important in protecting against cataracts and other signs of age-related degeneration.

It was found that over a 10-year period, people who took in high levels of vitamin C, either from diet or from supplements, had one-third less chance of developing cataracts and other vision changes. Researchers found the same connection even when studying twins, which suggests that vitamin C intake is even more important than genetics in determining whether a person will develop this disease.

This research suggests that vitamin C intake is a crucial factor in the age-related degeneration of eyes. Eating foods rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, berries and a variety of fruits and vegetables, may help you to retain good eyesight over the course of a lifetime.

More diseases appear to be more affected by diet and nutrition than we could have previously imagined. This is important because rates of chronic disease are increasing almost constantly. Despite higher access to healthy foods than ever before in human history, modern life makes it difficult to eat the wholesome plant-rich diet that we need for optimal health.

Do you get enough vitamin C in your diet? Because vitamin C is present in so many foods, most people assume that they are getting enough of this nutrient. However, the typical Western diet is deficient in many vitamins, making supplementation with vitamin C and other important nutrients highly beneficial. Getting all of your daily vitamins is important not just for feeling as healthy and energetic as possible, but for protecting against debilitating and disabling diseases.

Seven Signs You Have Low Serotonin

Apr 27 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Serotonin, which is often referred to as the “happiness hormone,” is most often associated with happiness and feelings of well-being. While this inhibitory neurotransmitter definitely has an effect on mood, it also affects our brains and bodies in a variety of other ways. Low serotonin can impact nearly every system in the body, causing symptoms that interfere with just about every aspect of daily life. Here are just a few ways that low serotonin can interfere with your health and well-being.

1. High Anxiety

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are often used to treat anxiety because anxiety is one of the most common symptoms of a serotonin deficiency. While serotonin is not the only hormone implicated in anxiety, people who suffer from anxiety disorders have been shown to have low serotonin in key areas of the brain.

2. Memory Problems

Serotonin is important for cognition and thinking, especially in the area of memory. When people suffer from low serotonin, they may not have trouble storing new memories, a process known as memory consolidation. This leads to difficulty in school, work and everyday tasks. If your memory just isn’t what it used to be, consider boosting serotonin levels as a method of treatment.

3. Carb Cravings

If you find yourself reaching for sweets and starches when you are feeling depleted, low serotonin may be the culprit. Eating complex carbs can indirectly raise your serotonin levels by shifting metabolism to carbohydrate pathways rather than those that use amino acids. This impacts serotonin levels because tryptophan, an essential amino acid, can then be used as a building block for serotonin rather than for energy.

4. Digestive Difficulties

If you associate serotonin with the brain, you only know half the story. Ninety percent of your body’s serotonin is located in the GI tract, where it plays a key role in regulating digestion. When you have low serotonin in your gut, you may suffer from diarrhea, anxiety and a variety of other gastrointestinal symptoms.

5. Insomnia

We fall asleep in response to a rise in melatonin and serotonin levels. Without these two hormones, people may find it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. In addition to being important to the process of falling asleep, serotonin is also a precursor to melatonin, which means it can be converted into this sleep hormone. If you are low on serotonin, you may be low on melatonin as well.

6. Increased Appetite

Have you been feeling hungry even when you have just eaten? Low serotonin levels may be the reason. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter most implicated in hunger. Serotonin inhibits dopamine, so low serotonin may mean an increase in hunger and eating. If you can’t stop eating, try to choose foods that support healthy serotonin production.

7. Chronic Pain

Abnormal serotonin levels have been repeatedly linked to chronic pain disorders such as fibromyalgia and chronic headaches. If you suffer from muscle aches, headaches, or other chronic pain, low serotonin may be the culprit.

Natural Ways to Treat Low Serotonin

There are a few ways to increase your serotonin if you believe it may be low. Many people find relief taking a 5-HTP supplement. In addition, research has found that meditation, exercise and light exposure all may increase serotonin levels. There are also foods that can increase serotonin levels such as milk, chickpeas and a variety of brightly-colored vegetables. Eating well and taking supplements often can help alleviate symptoms of low serotonin.

Low serotonin is so common in the U.S. that it is almost an epidemic. Many people suffer from vague health symptoms that cannot be treated effectively by modern medicine. Finding natural ways to increase serotonin can allow many people to function better and feel better in their daily lives.

Melatonin: A Casualty of Modern Technology?

Apr 22 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Today’s society has access to a wider range of entertainment, education and convenience than ever before thanks to modern technology. Cell phones, tablets and laptop computers are more portable than ever, allowing us to lead lives in which we are constantly in touch. However, the huge preponderance of screens we’re exposed to emanate unnatural light that can prevent human brains from making melatonin at the levels needed for good function. Low melatonin levels in the population are causing a variety of health problems, affecting more than just sleep.

Melatonin and Your Health

Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland of your brain in response to a lack of light. While most people associate melatonin with sleep, it actually controls hundreds of activities related to metabolism and the cell cycle. Melatonin is also a powerful antioxidant, helping to repair oxidative stress that’s occurred during the day. It serves as a cue for the production of other hormones, including female reproductive hormones, as well. In addition, melatonin is crucial in turning on genes that produce proteins that are needed for DNA repair and other restorative processes that mainly occur when we sleep.

When people have low melatonin levels, the most obvious symptom is a disruption of the circadian rhythm. However, the effects of low melatonin are far-reaching and can impact almost every system in the human body.

Low Melatonin Levels: A Modern Epidemic

Artificial light has become ubiquitous in modern life. From the television to the smartphone, this light is all around us. While humans once went to bed with the sunset, we now can be productive long into the night. This constant unnatural light interferes with our body’s production of melatonin. This is not merely theoretical; research has repeatedly linked insomnia and other sleep disorders to the use of devices with lighted screens. Heavy cell phone use is linked to increased sleep disorders as well as a higher prevalence of depression, mental health problems and other disorders linked to a lack of sleep.

The High Cost of Low Melatonin

Melatonin is a master hormone that governs a variety of crucial cell processes, so a deficiency can have wide-spread consequences. Some effects of low melatonin are not surprising: Fatigue, depression and lowered mental function. However, low melatonin levels have also been linked to a variety of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and IBS/IBD.

The reason for this link appears to lie in melatonin’s role in the immune system. Autoimmune diseases are characterized by an increase in the Th-17 subset of T-helper cells, which produce a cytokine called IL-17. This protein is important in protecting our bodies against infection, but when it is produced unchecked it causes much of the inflammation and damage that we associate with autoimmune disease.

Melatonin appears to lower levels of IL-17 by putting Th-17 cells “to sleep.” These cells are less active when there are high levels of melatonin and more active during the day when melatonin is low. The presence of increased IL-17 in people who have low melatonin levels suggests that a disturbed circadian rhythm can have even more destructive effects than previously believed.

New Treatments, New Hope

It is difficult or even impossible for most people to divorce their lives entirely of technology and screens. However, this does not mean we must resign ourselves to lives with fatigue and other negative health effects of low melatonin levels. People can choose to turn off screens and dim lights one to two hours before bed to allow melatonin levels to rise. In addition, there are melatonin supplements that can raise levels of this crucial hormone to the amounts needed to stimulate crucial processes such as sleep, cell repair and immune modulation.

Maintaining a healthy circadian rhythm is difficult in the modern world, but more important than ever. Although technology has made our lives better in many ways, it is a mixed blessing. Low melatonin is a risk to your health that can be successfully treated with lifestyle changes and supplementation, allowing you to enjoy good old-fashioned health in the modern day.

Discovered: Magnesium Keeps Your Body Clocks Running on Time

Apr 20 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Although we often associate vitamin deficiencies with past eras, they are a modern epidemic as well. While most people today generally get enough vitamins in their diet to prevent serious diseases such as rickets and scurvy, many still live with sub-clinical levels that aren’t sufficient for optimal cellular function. This can lead to vague symptoms such as fatigue, malaise and sleep disturbances. New research has discovered that magnesium, a mineral in which many people are deficient, may be especially important for preventing sleep disorders and maintaining a healthy circadian rhythm.

Magnesium: A Foundational Element of Life

Like many essential minerals and vitamins, magnesium plays a variety of roles in the human body. It is a cofactor in more than 300 biochemical reactions, with more yet to be discovered. When we lack this important mineral, even with a small deficiency, we have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease as well as symptoms that include memory loss, insomnia and muscle cramps. The link between magnesium and sleep disturbances has been of special interest to researchers because the exact mechanism behind this connection was previously unknown.

Magnesium and the Circadian Rhythm

A new study of magnesium and the circadian rhythm has found that this mineral is one of the chief players in our cells’ internal clocks. Magnesium levels in our cells oscillate, or rhythmically increase and decrease, throughout the day in a predictable pattern. The level of magnesium in a cell determines when the cell will be in high metabolic activity or in a period of rest and repair. When researchers adjusted magnesium levels in cells, the activity rate changed accordingly. These findings shed light on how magnesium deficiency may relate to sleep disorders and offers a possibly promising treatment for those who suffer from insomnia.

People who have low levels of magnesium in their diet, even levels that are not low enough to cause more serious symptoms, may not have enough magnesium to support optimal metabolism and a healthy circadian rhythm. This is especially concerning because the Western diet does not include a high amount of fruits, vegetables, soy, whole grains and other magnesium-rich foods. Knowledge of the link between magnesium and the circadian rhythm may encourage people to eat a more nutritious diet or supplement with magnesium, especially if they wish to sleep better.

Good Nutrition: The New Wonder Drug

Doctors and scientists are just beginning to discover the connections between good nutrition, good sleep and whole-body health. The link between magnesium and the circadian rhythm is one of many connections between essential nutrition and a healthy internal clock. The unique timing of fluctuations in magnesium levels in cells suggests that this mineral may be best used in a chronotherapeutic way. In other words, there may be optimal times during the day for people to take a magnesium supplement or eat foods rich in this nutrient. For example, choosing a bedtime snack that is high in magnesium may help people who struggle with insomnia to sleep better. Magnesium is already being used as an adjunct therapy for delirium, a disease that is deeply entwined with circadian rhythm disruption.

Understanding the way that different nutrients interact with the circadian rhythm can help researchers to develop more effective treatments for common ailments such as insomnia. This knowledge can also help when it comes to chronotherapy, the science of timing medications and therapies so they will be present during the time in the cell cycle when they can best be used. New medical discoveries in the field of chronobiology can help improve lives by allowing doctors to treat diseases in safer and more effective ways, in sync with the body’s natural rhythms.