Sleep – We vastly underestimate its power and under-utilize it to keep us healthy
BySleep is poorly understood even after all the research that has been done. Even though everyone knows we need it, no one really knows exactly why. We know a lot about it, but our knowledge barely scratches the surface. With all that we know, there is little we can do to change our need.
I have attached two podcast recordings from yesterday on the subject of sleep. You can also find these on iTunes under the name Get the Skinney or Ask an Expert Anything. I discuss many of the most common issues about sleep like: sleep apnea, CPAP, Leptin, Ghrelin, the association between sleep and weight and between sleep and longevity. I talk about our illogical thinking that we can sacrifice sleep in pursuit of some goal and the well documented problems of doing just that.
The podcast covers the Stages of Sleep and talks about Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep and NREM or non-rapid eye movement sleep. Did you know that infants spend 50% of their sleep in REM. That may have something to do with their developing brains. Do you know what a Circadian Rhythm is? How about the Brains “Biological Clock” called the SCN. Did you know that a third light receptor has been found in the eye? In addition to those rods and cones you already learned about. Those are hard wired to the SCN or Suprachiasmic Nucleus and influence the Pineal Glands production of Mealtonin. Did you know that there are two kinds of melatonin – the endocrine kind from the pineal gland and the kind produced by other tissue and only used within that tissue? It is a powerful antioxidant in its local role.
These two podcasts are only 15 minutes long and also provide you with information about resources and about the signup contest I am sponsoring this month. I hope you find these useful.
Ask an Expert Anything about Sleep
Ask an Expert Anything about Sleep part2
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