Benefits of Melatonin Rich Foods

What is Melatonin?

Melatonin is a “hormone” that is produced in your pineal gland and regulates numerous functions in your body. It is primarily responsible for the regulation of your body’s circadian rhythm.

Why do you need Melatonin?

In addition to regulating your body’s circadian rhythm, melatonin also provides the following benefits.

Anti-inflammatory

It provides anti-inflammatory benefits which is essential in protecting you from chronic diseases.

Depression

A 1998 study showed that depression was significantly decreased after treating patients with melatonin.

Increases DHEA

Increasing DHEA aids in the anti-aging process of your body.

Controls Cortisol

Melatonin controls the amount of cortisol being secreted in response to stress in your daily life.

Regulates Your Body Weight

A study conducted with rats demonstrated that melatonin may have a significant impact on regulating your body weight.

Sleep

Melatonin increases your REM sleep. That is your “dream” state sleep.

Reproduction

A 2005 study demonstrated that melatonin may provide neuro-protective benefits for the fetus.

Anti-Cancer Agent

Melatonin has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, and to prevent the proliferation of tumor cells.

Melatonin Rich Foods

Melatonin is found in a variety of foods. Following are a few suggestions to get started.

Vegetables – mushrooms, tomato berries, celery, alfalfa, fennel, and cucumbers.

Nuts and Seeds – pistachios, sunflower seeds, walnuts, and almond nuts.

Diary – pastured cow’s milk, and pastured eggs.

Fish – salmon

Grains – barley, oats, and wheat.

Fruits – strawberries, tart cherries, cranberries, grapes with skin, and black olives.

Legumes – kidney beans, and lentils.

Other Foods – mustard, fenugreek, coriander, and cardamom.

Other Factors

Other factors affecting your body’s production of melatonin, and levels of melatonin includes exercise. The evidence isn’t conclusive, but the time of day that you exercise may have a positive/negative impact on your melatonin levels.

Melatonin & Meditation

Meditation seems to have an extraordinarily positive impact on the production of melatonin in your pineal gland, and converting that melatonin through deeper meditation into other substances, leads to even more profound benefits to your body. (To be covered in another post.)

Benefits of Melatonin

The benefits of melatonin to your overall health can not be overstated. It is essential to maintaining your body’s health, and helps in the anti-aging processes.