Benefits of Melatonin - Helping with sleeping and waking up is the chief benefit of melatonin. When this hormone is released in higher levels in the body, it triggers readiness of sleep. During the night, levels remain high. But as dawn approaches, the level of melatonin decreases steadily. This is how a healthy body works, but some people suffer from insomnia because their body clock, or their circadian rhythm, isn’t functioning properly.
The release of melatonin in the body is affected by light. A circadian rhythm sleep disorder could be caused by failing to get adequate light during the day and being exposed to too much light at nighttime. Shift workers and people with jet lag often experience a disruption in their normal sleep cycle.
As people get older, their bodies produce less melatonin, causing them to have problems sleeping.
For these various cases of insomnia, research proves that melatonin can relieve general symptoms of sleeplessness. But because of the fact that there are many possible side effects of melatonin supplementation, it’s best to take the hormone as a patient under a doctor’s care, including when used as sleep therapy.
The following are additional benefits provided by melatonin:
The release of melatonin in the body is affected by light. A circadian rhythm sleep disorder could be caused by failing to get adequate light during the day and being exposed to too much light at nighttime. Shift workers and people with jet lag often experience a disruption in their normal sleep cycle.
As people get older, their bodies produce less melatonin, causing them to have problems sleeping.
For these various cases of insomnia, research proves that melatonin can relieve general symptoms of sleeplessness. But because of the fact that there are many possible side effects of melatonin supplementation, it’s best to take the hormone as a patient under a doctor’s care, including when used as sleep therapy.
The following are additional benefits provided by melatonin:
- It’s an antioxidant, which means that it helps to prevent cell damage. This function can ultimately improve your immune system and reduce the chances of having health issues such as diabetes and heart disease.
- When added to anti-cancer drugs, melatonin has been proven to improve the rates of survival of men with metastatic prostate cancer.
- Research shows that it inhibits the growth of some types of breast cancer cells.
- It can bring relief from pain and bloating to people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome.
- The improved amount of deep restorative sleep provided by melatonin can have anti-aging effects on the body.
- Research reveals that it may reduce the frequency of migraine headaches.
- It can effectively be used as an anti-anxiety agent.
- Used topically, melatonin is a natural sunscreen.
- Experimental research provides strong evidence that low levels of melatonin lead to relief of both depression and seasonal affective disorder.
- This natural hormone has been found to inhibit ovulation in women. Used together with other contraceptive methods, melatonin can be used as a form of oral contraceptive. On the other hand, some research has suggested that melatonin may stimulate the reproductive process.
- One of the most notable benefits is that it helps people who do shift work and who suffer from jet lag. Switching from working all night to working during the day disrupts the body’s biological clock, and the results include dizziness, fatigue, and muddled thinking. Melatonin helps establish normal sleep cycles more quickly, which relieves the negative symptoms caused by shift work and jet lag.
- People who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease can improve their quality of sleep and possibly slow the damaging effects of the disease.
- Finally, melatonin, since it improves the REM phase of sleep, can lead to dream enhancement. People often experience memorable, enjoyable, and vivid dreams as a result of melatonin supplementation. The dose taken is an important factor, however. - Benefits of Melatonin
