Natural Sleep Aid Also Fights Cancer
By
Natalie Moore
Posted September 13, 2016
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
Imagine a world where you could get a good night’s sleep and fight cancer at the same time.
Seems impossible, right?
Well, according to some new research, this not only a possibility, it’s already happening.
You see, there is a naturally occurring hormone that can help you get rejuvenating sleep while also protecting you from a certain type cancer — one that affects hundreds of thousands of American lives every year — breast cancer.
Killer Sleep
Recently, a team of scientists from Michigan State University discovered that melatonin, a hormone typically associated with sleep, is also helping your body fight breast cancer.
Melatonin is produced by the brain exclusively during night hours and helps to regulate sleep cycles. Lack of sleep is considered to be a risk factor for many diseases, yet few studies have been able to confirm this.
Until now…
For the experiment, the researchers grew breast tumor cells called mammospheres in a lab.
The growth of some of these cells was accelerated by known breast cancer boosters like the hormone estrogen and estrogen-like chemicals such as Bisphenol A (BPA) — the nasty stuff in plastic food packaging.
Exposing mammospheres to melatonin significantly decreased the number and size of these cells when compared with cells that weren’t exposed to melatonin.
And what’s even more incredible… when the cells were exposed to BPA or estrogen while they were being treated with melatonin, there was an even greater reduction in the size and number of the tumor cells.
This means that since our bodies naturally produce melatonin, they may also already possess the key to killing cancer!
However, things like poor sleep, unhealthy diet and exposure to dangerous chemicals can alter your systems, encourage disease in your body and render your natural cancer defenses useless.
That’s why research like this is vital to helping us discover how to diagnose and treat diseases.
David Arnosti, MSU professor and study director, explains this further: “You can watch bears in the zoo, but you only understand bear behavior by seeing them in the wild. Similarly, understanding the expression of genes in their natural environment reveals how they interact in disease settings. That’s what is so special about this work.”
These results have given scientists a solid start to furthering research about melatonin’s effects on cancer. Plus, it puts a finer point on how sleep deprivation can lead to disease.
Treatments based on this research are still years away.
In the meantime, adding more melatonin to your bedtime routine can help you sleep better and, as this research shows, may even help you kill cancer.
Melatonin supplements are available over the counter, and melatonin is often a key ingredient in many natural sleep aids.
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
Sources
[1] Curcumin Sensitizes Silymarin to Exert Synergistic Anticancer Activity in Colon Cancer Cells
Written By Natalie Moore
Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.
View More Free Articles
The Secret Ingredient to a Longer, Happier Life
Let’s face it. We’re all in need of an attitude adjustment from time to time. After all, when you turn on the news these days, the world can seem pretty dark. That is unless you make it a practice to look for the silver linings. In fact, Harvard researchers say when you do, something quite...
Do You REALLY Need All Those Skincare Products?
I often get questions about skincare products—and here’s what I’ve learned. In today’s beauty-obsessed world, it’s easy to fall into the trap of spending hundreds every month believing you need countless products to fight aging and achieve healthy, glowing skin. However, many dermatologists argue that LESS is MORE when it comes to skincare. Simplifying your...
“Ebb and Flow” Technique TRANSFORMS Senior Brain Health
You know by now that exercise is good for you. It keeps your heart healthy, your muscles strong, and your waistline trim. But what if I told you that a trendy “ebb and flow” workout technique—often associated with young fitness enthusiasts—could actually be a game-changer for us “oldsters” when it comes to brain health? And...
Mailbag: Slash Your Risk of Bone Fractures as You Age
“My doctor recently told me that I have osteoporosis. What can I do to reduce my risk of fractures and maintain strong bones as I age?” – Margaret Hi Margaret, Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I’m sure it was a shock. Osteoporosis is a serious condition that affects millions of people, and it’s not...
Household Favorite EXPOSED as Cancer Risk?
We all want to believe that the products we use daily are safe. After all, if they weren’t, they wouldn’t be on store shelves, right? Well, I hate to break it to you, but sometimes, the truth is far more alarming than we’d like to admit. The World Health Organization (WHO) has just dropped a...
Hidden Heatwave Threat REVEALED
Heat waves can have serious consequences. After all, staying cool isn’t just a comfort issue. When the mercury soars, it threatens your health—especially when you’re a senior. There are various reasons for this, including chronic medical conditions and bodies that just don’t regulate temperature as well as they once did. But there’s another heat-linked threat...
The Hidden Threat Behind Your Achy Joints
Picture this… You’re trying to enjoy a leisurely stroll in the park, but each step sends a jolt of pain through your knee. Or maybe you’re attempting to open a stubborn jar lid, only to have your fingers refuse to cooperate, leaving you feeling frustrated and helpless. Perhaps you’re simply trying to get out of...
Parkinson's Signs You Can't Afford to Miss
Imagine waking up one day to find your body betraying you. Your hands tremble as you try to button your shirt. Your feet shuffle when you want to walk with purpose. Once strong and clear, your voice now barely reaches above a whisper. This is the reality for those living with Parkinson’s. But what if...
Do Protein Needs Drop with Age? The SURPRISING Answer
I had a patient ask me the other day if they needed as much protein now as when they were younger. After all, we aren’t quite as active as seniors compared to when we were spring chickens. It’s a good question. And the answer might surprise you… Remember when you could devour a whole pizza...
Follow Your “Gut Feeling” to Reduce Diabetes Risk
It seems like every day we learn something new about the incredible influence our gut has on our overall health. From mood to immunity, and even to how well we sleep, the community of microbes in our digestive tract is pulling the strings behind the scenes. So, it should come as no surprise that researchers...