15 Health Benefits of Melatonin
By Brian Rose
Melatonin is a miracle molecule that is compulsory for the human body. It is made naturally by the human body, such as vitamin C. It is a powerful, best, and versatile antioxidant for the body produced in the human body by the pineal gland in the brain. Melatonin is called the “sleep hormone,” as high levels can immediately fall asleep. Melatonin production reaches its high level in puberty and then continuously decreases its level as we grow older, resulting in the physically degenerative condition known as “aging.” Melatonin is an excellent and remarkable molecule, known as the master Hormone-Modulating molecule that can help control the body’s aging clocks and remain in a youthful state.
Three decades of research and a lot of practice in immunology, oncology, biochemistry, and scientific evidence support the belief of the people that discouraging vision of aging is a thing of the past. Melatonin is present everywhere in the biological world, from unicellular organisms to multicellular vertebrates. In the modern age, Melatonin alters the way people view aging and can change the way people age. This fabulous molecule can add decades to people’s lives and enable them to live those years with a strong, healthy, and youthful body. Moreover, Melatonin is one of the joint dietary supplements that have gained much popularity around the world. When melatonin levels in the body naturally begin to decline, around age 45 years, then people must start to take a specific quantity of melatonin supplements. For this purpose, it is commonly made synthetically in laboratories. Generally, it is available in the pill form and available in a sublingual pill that can be placed in the human cheek or under the tongue. That allows the Melatonin to be absorbed in the human body directly. A recent study has proven that women produce less Melatonin in the summer season when the days are too long and more Melatonin in the winter season when the days are too short.
Melatonin can protect both the lipids and the proteins in the body against damage and scavenge a few of the most harmful free radicals in the body, such as hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide. Unlike all the other antioxidants, Melatonin can diffuse into all cells and cross the blood-brain barrier to protect the delicate brain. Melatonin’s main and primary job in the body is to regulate the night and day cycles or sleep-wake cycles in the best way.
The Top 15 best health benefits of Melatonin in the human body:
1. Role of Melatonin in Sleep
Proper sleep is necessary for human health and well-being. The human body needs to sleep as much as oxygen. So, adequate rest allows the body to refuel and provides the body’s cells a chance to repair and regenerate them according to requirements. As people age increase, the specific amount of Melatonin produced by the body decreases; thus, sleep disturbances occur. The adult requires 8 to 9 hours of sleep every night to complete this best regeneration process.
Poor sleep can deplete the body’s energy, lower productivity, and increase the risk of different diseases, including high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, immune-system dysfunction, and productivity in a lot of other body activities. Although poor sleep is a common issue, it can have severe consequences. In that case, Melatonin is fruitful for the proper functioning of circadian rhythms. The circadian rhythm is the best and amazing human body’s internal clock that tells the human body about the adequate time to sleep and wake. In the darkness, the pineal gland releases Melatonin that causes your heartbeat rate to slow down and your body temperature to lower. These physiological conditions allow your body for deep and restful sleep. The pineal gland also has the ability to block its release during daylight. That is a signal for the body that it is time to wake up. Melatonin also shortens the amount of time taken to fall asleep and improves the quality of sleep in children and adults. It has also become one of the popular supplements among people who are struggling to lose fall asleep.
Moreover, Melatonin can also help with jet lag that is a temporary sleep disorder. Generally, Jet lag occurs when the human body’s internal clock is out of sync with the new time zone. Melatonin is remarkably effective and best at reducing the effects of jet lag in the human body.
2. Role in Aging Clock
Aging is the loss of the body’s natural ability to adapt to its environment. Aging is an ultimate disease because people are more susceptible to different conditions as the body ages increase. These diseases, in turn, cause the human body to age. In short words, the perfect and precise point in the human brain that controls how we age is called the “aging clock.” In that case, Melatonin plays a crucial role in resetting this clock, health, and longevity in the human body. If people consider the human body as a rubber band So when people are young and healthy, their bodies can quickly bounce back from the force of this stress. Still, as people’s age increases, they increasingly lose the ability to rapidly adapt to new situations; in short words, people lose resiliency. In that case, like an old rubber band, it takes a much longer time to bounce back.
The pineal gland plays the same role in the bodies that the conductors do with an orchestra. The pineal gland regulates and harmonizes the functionality of a lot of parts of the body. The pineal gland also functions as the body’s aging clock. The pineal gland is also considered the master of circadian cycles and the miracle molecule that the pineal gland produces Melatonin.
So, with the help of its Master Molecule, Melatonin, a young pineal gland sends a specific message of “youth” throughout the body, keeping the human body healthy and strong. Melatonin supplements in the aging subjects can quickly restore pineal glands to their youthful, productive states and restore balance to the body, which reversed the aging process.
3. Supportive for Eye Health
Adequate melatonin levels are much supportive for eye health. Because Melatonin is rich in antioxidants that can quickly help prevent eye cell damage and keep your eyes healthy. Different research has shown that the miracle molecule melatonin could be very beneficial in treating some specific conditions such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. Melatonin is best to protect the eye retina, delay age-related damage, and preserve visual clarity. Moreover, Melatonin also minimizes the severity and incidence of retinopathy that is an eye disease that affects the retina and can result in loss of vision.
4. Protect against diabetes risk
Melatonin protects against the risk of diabetes. It influences blood sugar and insulin, which are critical markers for metabolic health and drivers of different metabolic diseases, including diabetes. Melatonin has a nest protective effect over metabolic health, and it can lower diabetes risk in the human body. According to the research, maintaining healthy nocturnal melatonin levels in the body can cut one’s risk for diabetes in half compared to those who have low nighttime melatonin production. Melatonin can effectively minimize the risk of diabetes by interfering with insulin. This hormone helps the cells access glucose from the bloodstream, thereby regulating blood sugar levels. In this way, this miracle molecule protects against diabetes.
5. Protect against Alzheimer’s
Melatonin provides the best protection against age-related brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. For decades it is considered that Melatonin levels are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Generally, People with Alzheimer’s contain much lower levels of Melatonin in their bodies as compared to their age peers without this disease. And the decrease in the level of Melatonin continues as the neurodegenerative disease progresses in the body. According to research, Melatonin has significant neuroprotective capabilities. It can help prevent Alzheimer’s by slowing or stopping the accumulation of damaging amyloid plaque and other harmful proteins in the human brain. The supplemental Melatonin may help reverse the cognitive decline when Alzheimer’s disease is already present.
6. Protect against cancer
Melatonin is one of the best anti-cancer agents. One of Melatonin’s most essential benefits in health is in fighting a wide array of cancers. T-cells are one of the body’s primary cancer fighters. While cancer is a group of different diseases in which the body’s cells become abnormal and divide without any control. Cancer cells may invade nearby tissues and quickly spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to the other parts of the human body. Melatonin plays the role of the master regulatory molecule in that case.
Melatonin can suppress cancer cell and tumor growth, along with the Inhibition of cancer metastasis. This molecule is the best booster for cancer treatment’s effectiveness, and it can also reduce the severity of some side effects of radiation and chemotherapy during the treatment. Melatonin is a perfect molecule to prevent cancer from developing in the first place. Melatonin can help prevent hormone-dependent cancers, such as breast cancer and prostate cancer. Melatonin is a strong and best tool in preventing cancer in its role of strengthening the immune system that is the body’s natural ability to identify and destroy abnormal cells from the body. Melatonin can also hinder spindle formation that can potentially slow down cell division in the body. Apoptosis protects against cancer disease, and Melatonin supports the apoptosis of cancer cells. In addition to the melatonin benefits for cancer survival, Melatonin may also help counteract chemotherapy treatment’s toxicity.
7. Helpful in Treatment of Stomach Ulcers and Heartburn
The miracle molecule melatonin’s excellent antioxidant properties are much helpful in the treatment of stomach ulcers and alleviate heartburn. For this purpose, taking a specific quantity of Melatonin, tryptophan, and omeprazole is a common medication for acid reflux and helps heal stomach ulcers. Melatonin is useful to reduce heartburn disease.
8. Reduce the Symptoms of Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a severe condition that is characterized by a constant ringing in the ears. It is often harmful when there is very little background noise, like, people trying to fall asleep. Melatonin is suggested as the best treatment for tinnitus because of its positive effects on sleep and its vasoactive or antioxidant unique properties. Melatonin is perfect for improving sleep disturbance that is linked to tinnitus. Different studies on Melatonin and tinnitus have revealed that Melatonin can help ensure a good night’s sleep and reduce the harmful and worst of many people’s tinnitus symptoms. According to research, sixty-one adults with tinnitus took almost three mg of Melatonin before going to bed for 30 days. It helped them a lot to reduce the effects of tinnitus and significantly improved sleep quality.
9. Melatonin role in Sexuality and reproduction
Research has shown that Melatonin plays a vital role in regulating a lot of reproductive processes such as puberty, gonadal function, and pregnancy. Besides it, Melatonin can directly neutralize several free radicals and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species present in the human body. Melatonin is also helpful in restoring both male and female sex organs and driving to their youthful “peak performance” levels in the best way. According to Clinical trials, Melatonin can prevent age-related deterioration of sexual organs, which has been linked to impotence, sexual dysfunction, lack of desire, and many more.
The pineal gland produces Melatonin and even regulates hormones that help all the new mothers forge a tight bond with their offspring. That specific bond creates the maternal instinct that drives a mother to protect her young one. That is compulsory for the survival of species. These hormones also control the human sexual development process. Additional evidence supporting a reproductive melatonin hormone focuses on abnormal melatonin secretion in disorders of the reproductive system. Normal melatonin rhythm levels are also closely related to those of the reproductive hormones during infancy and reciprocally correlated during puberty.
10. Increase the Growth Hormone Levels in human
Human Growth Harmon is a specific type of hormone essential to the human body’s growth and cellular regeneration. Moreover, it is also relatively safe and non-toxic for the human body. The human pituitary gland produces the human growth hormone. Studies revealed that the potent molecule melatonin could make the pituitary gland, which is the organ that releases growth hormones in the human body. Lower HGH levels can decrease the quality of human life and increase the risk of different diseases.
On the other hand, higher levels of this human growth Harmon have also been linked to increases in the body’s strength and muscle mass. So, the melatonin supplement can directly enhance HGH production in the body. Adequate sleep is also beneficial to improve the HGH levels, as Melatonin improves sleep quality, so Melatonin helps enhance the level of human growth Harmon in the body.
11. Helpful in stress management and Seasonal Depression
Stress is a normal part of daily life. Stress is the body’s natural reaction to any change that needs a response. The human body commonly reacts to these changes with physical, mental, and emotional responses. Even people can experience stress from their environment, body, and thoughts. In the human brain, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system is activated, triggering the primary stress hormone’s formation and release. Corticosteroid released by the HPA is involved in a vast range of physiological systems such as stress response, immune response, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, etc. Elevated corticosteroids can be harmful to the human body, including a high level of stress. It can increase the blood sugar levels, risk of diabetes, and damage the body’s heart. Damage in the brain due to stress affects the ability to think clearly and retain information in memory for a long time. Melatonin supplementation, in that case, normalizes corticosteroid levels in human bodies. Taking Melatonin not only protects against the negative aspects of stress by keeping corticosteroid levels in control but also works with endorphins, which is a special stress-reducing and pain-relieving chemical produced by the immune system. Melatonin improves the effect of endorphins by helping the body to withstand stress and promote a greater sense of general well-being in that case.
12. Helpful in Seasonal affective disorder
Seasonal depression is generally called the “winter blues” or seasonal affective disorder. According to an estimate, Seasonal affective disorder is a common condition that affects almost 10% of the population in the whole world. This kind of depression is usually related to the alternation in the seasons that occurs every year. It could also be linked with the changes in circadian rhythm that is caused by seasonal light changes. Because Melatonin plays a vital role in regulating circadian rhythm, that’s why its low doses are often used to decrease the symptoms of seasonal depression.
13. Protect Against Treatment of GERD
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a disease that is caused by the backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus. That results in symptoms like heartburn, nausea, and belching.
Melatonin can block the secretion of stomach acids to protect against this disease. It can also minimize nitric oxide production, which is a compound that relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, which allows the stomach acid to enter your esophagus. That’s why Melatonin is commonly used to treat heartburn and GERD.
14. Protection to the Immune System
The immune system is one of the most important, intricate, and dynamic systems in the human body. It is specially designed to respond to protect the human body against the millions of external, unwanted bacteria, microbes, parasites, and diseases that can attack and destroy the body. T-cells play a vital role in immune system functioning and produce many such substances that regulate the immune response. Even a multitude of healthy, best, and active T-cells are compulsory for healthy survival. As people’s age increases, the thymus gland, which stores and controls T-Cells, deteriorates, causing the T-cells to become less effective for the immune system. As a result, the immune system gradually breaks down, leaving behind vulnerable to disease onset. Some other factors also suppress and damage the immune system’s functioning by decreasing the number of active white blood cells in our bodies. A recent study shows that melatonin supplementation can increase the weight of the thymus and the proper activity of the T-cells in the body. While Clinical trials have shown that Melatonin, the master hormone regulator works well to strengthen the body’s antibody response, fighting against different viruses. It can also improve thyroid function, boosting and supporting the immune system’s functioning and proper working.
15. Melatonin in weight loss
Research has indicated Melatonin is beneficial for body composition and fat oxidation (burning) to lose weight. Melatonin can also increase the rate of metabolism in the human body. Melatonin exerts its effect on the importance of the human body by modulating the action of a lot of critical metabolic homes such as insulin, ghrelin, and lepton.
FAQs:
Is it beneficial to take Melatonin every night?
Melatonin is a molecule that the human body makes naturally, and its also used in a supplement form for different purposes. This fantastic molecule is also believed to be entirely safe. It is not a habit-forming molecule, and you will not become addicted to it. It can be easily used on a nightly basis without any fear of adverse consequences at all.
Does Melatonin cause weight gain in the human body?
Research has indicated Melatonin is beneficial for body composition and fat oxidation to lose weight. Melatonin exerts its effect on the human body’s extra weight by modulating the action of several key metabolic homes, including insulin and ghrelin.
Can Melatonin slow down the metabolism in the body?
Melatonin can increase metabolism and improve the ability to lose weight instead of slowing down the body’s metabolism.
Does Melatonin is helpful in Anxiety?
The human body naturally produces Melatonin. Melatonin Supplementing for Anxiety can increase sleep quality, regulate circadian rhythm, and ease negative feelings associated with anxiousness.
Conclusion:
Melatonin has a lot of health benefits for the human body. Melatonin, the miracle molecule, is the best and non-toxic supplement that can help people fight against different diseases, including falling asleep. Especially in insomnia or jet lag, eye health, tinnitus symptoms, treat stomach ulcers and heartburn, increase growth hormone levels in humans, cancer treatment, and help with seasonal depression, etc.
References:
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2. Zhang R, Wang X, Ni L, Di X, Ma B, Niu S, et al. COVID-19: Melatonin as a potential adjuvant treatment [Internet]. Vol. 250, Life Sciences. Elsevier Inc.; 2020 [cited 2020 Dec 3]. p. 117583. Available from: /pmc/articles/PMC7102583/?report=abstract
3. Bahrampour Juybari K, Pourhanifeh MH, Hosseinzadeh A, Hemati K, Mehrzadi S. Melatonin potentials against viral infections including COVID-19: Current evidence and new findings [Internet]. Vol. 287, Virus Research. Elsevier B.V.; 2020 [cited 2020 Dec 3]. p. 198108. Available from: /pmc/articles/PMC7405774/?report=abstract