How Sleep Effects YOUR Hormones

This article is intended to assist mothers to be looking to get healthier, so that they can become pregnant, and also mothers who have got their little ones back into some sort of nightly routine. For those in between, don’t despair….it won’t be long till your back to top energy levels if you heed this advice!

An important lifestyle step to master is maximizing the rest and repair processes that are accomplished through adequate sleep. Although mothering is an inherently natural thing, we have in many ways separated ourselves from dependence on the natural world, but remember we are still physiologically linked to nature.

Biological Clocks

Our link to nature is clearly seen in our sleep patterns and in our hormonal system. Our hormones are intimately linked to several natural rhythms or biological clocks. These biological rhythms are based on the twenty-four hour cycle of daylight and darkness as well as the monthly cycle of the moon.

Twenty-Four Hour Adrenal Hormone Cycle

Just like the monthly biological clock in females, both men and women, have twenty-four hour cycles, or daily clocks. While fluctuations in female hormone production vary with a monthly cycle, the adrenal hormone cortisol varies with a twenty-four hour or daily cycle. Cortisol levels peak in the early morning hours as the sun rises and taper off as the sun sets, reaching their lowest levels three hours after dark. This daily rhythm of cortisol dictates when we should be our most active and when we should rest.

Any time you fly and change time zones, the importance of this twenty-four hour biological clock becomes clear. Even a time change of a few hours can be enough to throw off one’s normal sleep cycle. Cortisol not only dictates our sleep and wake states; it is also the primary hormone involved in directing immune system functioning.

Immune Trafficking Cycle

Have you ever wondered why your cold or flu symptoms get worse at night? It’s because the twenty-four hour rhythm of cortisol production regulates your immune system as well. As cortisol drops at night, our immune cells become more active. These cells leave the bone marrow and spleen to protect you while you rest. During this highly active period of immune function, immune cells kill bacteria and viruses. This basic immune activity relies on appropriate levels of cortisol. As cortisol drops at night, our immune system activity picks up, killing bacteria and viruses in large numbers leading to greater mucous production. This leads to more congestion and coughing at night as your body attempts to get rid of the mucous created from destroying bacteria and viruses. At daybreak, cortisol rises and immune cells return to the bone marrow and spleen to rest and recondition in preparation for the next nightly cycle.

Natural Sleep Cycle

If cortisol is out of balance, this normal immune function is compromised. As mentioned earlier, cortisol levels rise at daybreak giving us the energy to begin the working day. As cortisol drops naturally at night, we enter into rest and recovery, physical repair and psychic regeneration. Our immune system functions optimally if we to go to sleep by 10 p.m. As we sleep, physical repair takes place, immune cells patrol our bodies, eliminating cancer cells, bacteria, viruses and other harmful agents. However, if cortisol is elevated at night this immune function is compromised. If cortisol levels are normal during sleep, then true rest and recovery takes place thereby enhancing physical repair and immunity.

During sleep we also enter into stages of psychic regeneration. During these times, the brain releases chemicals that enhance our immune system. All during the night, we are going into Rapid Eye Movement (or REM) sleep states and non-REM sleep, alternating between light sleep and deep dream states. This is how we process the mental and emotional events of the previous day and refresh our minds for the day ahead. Most people need seven to eight hours of sleep to accomplish all these tasks. Without sufficient sleep, the immune system is hard pressed to keep up with its repair work and this creates the opportunity for disease processes to begin. If you miss out on proper rest, your physical repair and psychic regeneration will be compromised.

How to Spot Reduce Fat

It has been known in the fitness industry by savvy trainers for some time that doing hundreds of crunches does not ‘spot reduce fat’ around the mid section, lunges, squats and running, whilst great forms of exercise do not specifically reduce fat on the legs etc, you did know that didn’t you?  The good news is cutting edge scientific research has found in the last decade or so that knowing a persons specific hormone balance, we can possibly optimize their body composition, following site-characteristic protocols. Here are four example indicators:

1. Fat around thighs indicates high estrogen levels, very common in today’s world full of plastics and xeno-estrogens(biological estrogen mimickers).

2. Fat on the front of the tummy or umbilicus represents high or imbalanced Cortisol or stress hormone problems, again modern day stressful lifestyles!

3. High levels of Insulin are shown in Fat storage areas around the ‘love handles’ this is a reflection of blood sugar problems and poor diet.

4. A poor Thyroid function and high goitrogen levels can commonly lead to high levels of Fat storage around the neck, mid back and low shoulder blade area.

5. The fifth clinical pearl is that high Androgen levels, promote Fat storage around the upper arms and mid-section area.

If all this sounds complex, the real solutions are healthy, regular levels of exercise and following a good balanced diet and stress management, you can’t beat your body into submission, it just doesn’t work. Work smart, not simply hard. The truth is you can get better results with the same time spent working out, sounds good doesn’t it? If in doubt speak to someone about your nutritional intake!

Excess levels of hormones found in the body are not being processed correctly by the liver, usually due to stress and poor diet, genetics does play its part but normally the former two are more influential. Laboratory testing is usually the best way to find out your hormones levels, and ‘If you’re not assessing, you’re guessing’ as a teacher of mine likes to say. Speak to your GP or a qualified Nutritionist if you need clarification. Again I’ll stress the importance of balancing stress, nutrition and exercise, they are key in getting the body you deserve.

1. High lower body (upper thigh skin fold and gluteal fold) fat measurements; indicate high amounts of so-called Alpha-2-receptors, (more common in women) plus high levels of estrogens. The recommended treatment for this would be clearing the liver from high circulating levels of estrogen. Also by locally blocking alpha-2 receptors we maximize fat loss, and minimize fat accumulation.  I also suggest the supplements indole-3-carbinol, (found in Broccoli type vegetables) as an estrogen detoxifier, as well as some isoflavones and calcium d glucarate. A healthy liver naturally cleanses the body of unwanted hormones so keeping it healthy is paramount.

2. High umbilical (abdominal) skin fold measurements alarmed health care professionals because one study consisting of 30,000 women over a period of 12 years discovered that women with higher umbilical fat measurements, (abdominal fat accumulation) were more likely to develop heart disease than other ordinary overweight women. As I mentioned before, this group had to deal with high stress and chronically elevated cortisol. Stress reduction and regular sleep patterns are key. Also the supplement phosphatydylserine has shown a dramatic reduction of circulating cortisol, (as well as improved mood, memory, and motivation ­ to fight stress and depression). Fish oils rich in essential omega-3 oils and Liquorice Root, which helps the regulation of cortisol production. Glycyrrhizin is a component of liquorice, which is capable of inactivating cortisol. Another good idea for any person belonging to this particular group is to limit (reduce) their caffeine and simple sugars consumption. These are factors that could impact (increase) their levels of cortisol in the body.

3. People with a high, mid-axillary (upper outer lat region) fat measurement, usually have some form of thyroid problem. This can measured in blood test by your GP. The supplements that I recommend to treat this particular problem are: the Ayurvedic herb Guggul, which stimulates synthesis of T3, the active form of thyroid hormone. Also a good choice would be a Bladderwrack a natural source of Iodine, Zinc and Selenium, all responsible for thyroid hormone production. Finally, Ashwaganda and Coleus root(a member of the mint family) both used frequently to stimulate the thyroid gland.

4. If a supra iliac (love handles) skin fold is high, then the person could have a circulating insulin problem, so a glycemically balanced diet is recommended here. Take frequent smaller meals, consisting of essential fats and high fibre. Supplements such as chromium, fenugreek and flax seeds will control levels of blood sugar and insulin. So, to remind you once again of the importance of good nutrition as it makes your life in the gym much easier or the body you have much stronger and healthier!

Speak to Guy about creating a balanced nutrition plan to suit your personal needs with the possible inclusion of testing, and the recommendation of certain herbal supplements.

Call on 07980 865 892

References:

Your guide to Healthy Hormones 2003 – Dr D Kalish,

The Body Typing Diet 1999 Dr Sandra Cabot

Biosignatures Information 2005 – Poliquin Performance Institute