subject: Melatonin - A Powerful Hormone That Regulates Sleep [print this page] Melatonin is a longevity hormoneMelatonin is a longevity hormone. It is a natural hormone secreted by the pineal gland, located in the brain, which regulates the human biological clock and sleep. Other great benefits of melatonin are that it regulates immunity and has anticancer properties. There are countless human studies published around the world that prove Melatonin is a very important and powerful hormone.
Melatonin is a hormone that our body already naturally produces in small amounts. We have higher levels of melatonin when we are born. This is perhaps why infants sleep longer. Our melatonin levels peak when we are teenagers and after that the levels begin to fall as we age. By the time a person reaches the age of 60 the presence of melatonin almost disappears. Therefore, time spent in deep sleep decreases with age because melatonin levels decrease with age.
Studies have shown that melatonin decreases the amount of time it takes to go to sleep, reduces the number of night awakenings, and improves overall quality of sleep. People who use melatonin to treat sleep disorders also found relief from tension and cluster headaches. Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland when we sleep. Because of this, it is important to only take your melatonin after the sun goes down. Do not take this during the day because this is opposite to the body's cycle of production. For best results it's suggested that you take one 3 mg tablet thirty minutes before going to bed. Men should take 3 mg every night and women should take 1.5 mg (half a tablet) four nights a week.
Studies have also shown that melatonin regulates immunity. Its anticancer properties have shown to stop or delay the spread of cancer. It has been shown in studies that a low level of melatonin is associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer. Studies have been done that show it inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells. Also, in clinical studies, melatonin was shown to reduce the level of prostate specific antigen, PSA, in prostate cancer patients.
This is a miraculous and wonderful hormone. Everyone over the age of 40 should take it. It is safe, non-toxic and there are no side effects. There have been numerous studies that prove its effectiveness. Best of all melatonin is cheap, you take it for only pennies a day. So to feel better, live longer and to have a higher quality of life add Melatonin to your daily supplement regimen.
