It's true, melatonin does help you sleep and we all know the importance a good night's rest has on optimal health and well-being. But did you know it has a myriad of health benefits far beyond being a sleep aid?
In fact, in his booklet Melatonin: The Miracle For Life natural health expert, Terry Lemerond, says "I'll go out on a limb and say that because of melatonin's broad effects to the benefit of nearly all systems and cells in the human body, almost everyone should take melatonin, especially those over 50."
Lemorond goes on to say that Melatonin:
Improves immune function, especially in the elderly
Knocks out a wide range of viruses
Lowers cholesterol
Normalizes blood pressure
Prevents a variety of types of cancer, especially hormone-related cencers
Overcomes resistance to the benefits of chemotherapy
Protects healthy cells from damage by chemotherapy
Improves blood-sugar control
Relieves irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease
Effective in treating and preventing a variety of eye diseases
And provides a better night sleep
Mainly produced in the pineal gland, melatonin acts like a hormone in every way except that it can also be extracted from some foods, including vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, seeds, eggs and fish. The pineal gland controls circadian rhythms – the body clock – which are the day-night/sleep-wake cycle. Therefore, melatonin (often referred to as the time-keeping hormone) is intrinsically connected to the biological clock that governs the endocrine system and virtually every body process. Research has shown that when circadian rhythms are out of balance there is a propensity to obesity, diabetes, sleep disorders, depression, bipolar disorder and SAD (seasonal affective disorder).
A great deal of research has also been done on melatonin and its affects on aging. Theories suggest that we age because of cell damage, deterioration of the immune system, and a breakdown of the body's circadian rhythms. Melatonin addresses all of these aging issues due to its antioxidant properties, immune system stimulation, restoration of circadian rhythms, anti-inflammatory properties, and because it strengthens the mitochondria keeping cells strong and healthy.
Importantly, a key benefit during this time of the Covid pandemic, Lemorond states the following when addressing melatonin as an immune system enhancer:
It increases the body's production of Natural Killer (NK) cells and T cells, the foundational molecules of the immune system.
It is anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant, enhancing its effectiveness against all kinds of infections, including viral infections.
Early research suggests that melatonin can safely reduce the number of viral infections, including COVID-19 infections, especially in elderly people whose immune systems have degraded with age.
A combination of melatonin and the Ayurvedic herb, andrographis, may prove to be a potent treatment for the pandemic virus.
Click on the following link for more in depth information about melatonin and its benefits in Terry Lemorond's booklet Melatonin: The Miracle For Life.
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