A Good Nights Sleep Can Help Prevent Cancer!

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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 <http://www.mercola.com/2002/may/18/body_clock.htm> how cancer

progresses through shifts in hormones like melatonin, which the brain

manufactures during sleep.

Investigative research discovered in Brain Behavior Immunology October

2003

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & li\

st_uids=12946654 & dopt=Abstract> 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

<http://www.mercola.com/2002/nov/20/reduce_stress.htm> 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

<http://www.mercola.com/2001/mar/28/sleep_cancer.htm> . An additional

association between cancer and an upset circadian rhythm deals with the

hormone cortisol <http://www.mercola.com/2000/aug/27/adrenals.htm> ,

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

<http://www.mercola.com/2003/mar/8/sleep_diabetes.htm> due to

heightened insulin resistance, and insulin has been obviously connected

to cancer <http://www.mercola.com/2000/may/28/insulin_breast_cancer.htm>

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

<http://www.mercola.com/1999/archive/writing_helps_asthma_arthritis.htm>

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. Loop.