I Surf, therefore I Am

Greetings,

Tonight begins the first course of Terra Lifestyle University! Hope you got registered for this course.  Can't wait to see what's up in it!

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From recent Newsletter, a little Night Music, Professor:

Melatonin 

"The Sleep Molecule"

Gerald P. Kozlowski, Ph.D. 

Research Program Director

As darkness falls our pineal glands produce and release melatonin as sleep gently ensues. The pineal gland was so named because it is shaped like a pine cone. The gland is located in the center of the head and intriguingly responsive to light for a few reasons; one, it has elements of the rods and cones like the retina and, second, it is connected to the visual system via a collection of small neurons situated above the crossed optic nerve. This is the brain's center for rhythms which occur day-to-day and season-to-season. In humans, the pineal is the analogue of the third eye found in reptiles.  In early times, the philosopher Descartes called the pineal the seat of the soul. 

Melatonin is the hormone of darkness that links us to the cycle of day and night. However, as we age, the pineal produces less melatonin and that may be one reason why we sleep less as we age. Likewise, melatonin is used for insomnia, jet lag, shift-work disorder, circadian rhythm disorders in the blind and for reducing benzodiazepine and nicotine withdrawal. 

Chemically, 5HTP is the starting molecule for making serotonin, another sleep molecule, which can be used directly as a neurotransmitter or for conversion to melatonin. Thus, the interplay between neurotransmitters, endocrine function and sleep is maximized. 

Melatonin is one ingredient in CALM and works synergistically with many of the other ingredients that promote sleep like valerian root, chamomile, hops, lemon balm and passion flower.  Melatonin is a potent antioxidant shown to be 6-10 times more active than vitamin E (NMC Database). It is an oxygen free radical scavenger preventing several enzymatic reactions that generate reactive oxygen species or ROS involved in the damage seen in inflammation. One property of melatonin which is gaining increasing interest is its oncostatin or tumor inhibiting capacity. 

Dr. Russell Reiter, a member of our Science Advisory Board and a Professor of the University of Texas at San Antonio, has authored a book on melatonin and published more than 1600 scientific articles resulting from numerous research studies on melatonin. He is also an authority on the link between walnuts, which have a high content of melatonin, and cancer. There is a plethora of interesting facts and applications of melatonin in neurological diseases such as Huntington's, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's beyond the limits of this small introduction but, hopefully, we should be able to appreciate this small but significant molecule in the near future of continuing medical research.

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If you're not in a government-funded secret program that gives you a green pill daily to boost your IQ,  then HOW can you boost your brainpower?  Current Reader's Digest (print edition) has a list.   I will mention three here:

1. ADEQUATE SLEEP
2. AEROBIC EXERCISE 
3. NAPS

Seriously.  Therefore, melatonin must play a key role in keeping your brain up-to-par.  Have time for a nap but are not a napper?  Take a spoonful of Calm and you'll enjoy a great, restoring mid-day nap.

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One other way to put yourself to sleep:  watch the following totally awesome, dude, video of incredible surfing.

 

 

 

 

Roar Power from Darren McCagh on Vimeo.

And SHARE THE HEALTH today!

NectrHugz,
Barb