Treat Insomnia Naturally

Insomnia is the bane of modern society. Since the introduction of the electric light over one hundred years ago, nearly half of the world is lit up at night. Artificial light disturbs natural circadian rhythms.

The pineal gland produces the sleep hormone—melatonin—only in the dark. Without adequate melatonin production, sleep is disturbed, hormones become imbalanced, and the ability to fight dis-ease is diminished.

The pineal gland, located in the center of the brain, is associated with the crown chakra. Light energy affects pineal production of melatonin. Cells located in our skin called chromocytes carry light wave information to the pineal gland. At dawn, the daylight is a blue wave which stimulates chromocytes to turn off the pineal gland. At dusk, the pink light of sunset blocks the blue rays and the pineal gland begins producing melatonin.

Melatonin production peaks about three hours after dark and lasts eight to nine hours in adults, longer in children. At dawn, the drop of melatonin arouses the hypothalamus. Located deep in the brain at the level of the sixth chakra, the hypothalamus controls all vital body functions including temperature, weight, libido, hormones, stress response, the immune system and directs the cascade of amino acids that form neurotransmitters. The hypothalamus is truly the maestro of the body's biochemical orchestra.

Once the hypothalamus wakes up, it needs glucose, so it stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol which releases stored sugar. Cortisol stimulates the production of dopamine which is the neurotransmitter of alertness, memory and learning. Dopamine follows natural cortisol rhythms, remaining elevated until mid afternoon. Schools capitalize on the natural circadian rhythm of the learning hormone by teaching children from 8am to 3pm. The late afternoon slump that makes many of us reach for sugar and caffeine is a reflection of this natural drop in cortisol and dopamine.

Prolactin is another extremely important nocturnal hormone. Released by the pituitary gland, prolactin is very high in pregnant and nursing mothers—its name refers to promoting lactation. Produced by all ages and both genders, prolactin stimulates the thymus to program the natural killer cells that keep our bodies free of foreign invaders and cancer.  Without sleep, we are prone to disease as our immune systems weaken. Prolactin rises three hours after melatonin and is turned off by dopamine.

In the morning, melatonin cascades into serotonin. A calming hormone, serotonin controls our impulses. And the more serotonin made during the day the more melatonin at night.

You can create a natural circadian rhythm by rising with the sun and exercise early in the day.  Exercise promotes cortisol production thus increasing dopamine, the active daytime hormones. Released in response to both physical and emotional stressors, cortisol fuels our bodies for flight away from potential danger.  Dopamine and cortisol can prevent the cascade of serotonin back into melatonin in the evening so beware of exercising within a few hours of bedtime.

Insomnia is often at the root of many dis-eases. Cancer, obesity, immune dysfunction, hormonal imbalances, diabetes, even heart disease have been associated with sleep disorders. Although sleep medications are available as temporary relief, they do not promote normal nocturnal hormone production.

I really did not appreciate how the hypothalamus affects our sleep cycles until I began taking Sacred Seven®.

You see, I suffered from somnambulance—sleep walking—for eighteen years. Rarely did I get a restful night's sleep. Most nights I slept less than four or five hours. Many times I found myself outside clutching a pillow. Kind of scary and definitely not good for my health. I managed my days by running on fumes, exercising obsessively, and eating way too much sugar.

Then I began taking SacredSeven® amino acids and within a month, I began sleeping through the night and my sugar cravings stopped. In fact for the first three months, I slept over ten hours a night—my body trying to catch up with years of lack of sleep.

Balancing the hypothalamus takes time to reset the circadian rhythm, so Sacred Seven® is not an immediate sleep aide, but instead gets to the core issue, balancing the brain chemistry, restoring optimal hypothalamic functioning, and, in time, deepening and lengthening the sleep cycles.

GenesisGold® has the Sacred Seven® amino acids in it to balance the hypothalamus and restore normal circadian rhythm, yet it takes a bit longer, so extra Sacred Seven® may be needed for chronic insomnia.

Sweet Dreams...

Natural Remedies for Insomnia Don't miss the sunset. Remember the pink light of dusk induces melatonin production. Don't watch television or work on the computer after dark. The blue light from these screens acts like dawn and shuts down melatonin production. If you must expose yourself to blue light wear pink tinted glasses while watching television or doing computer work at night. Try eating tryptophan enriched foods in the evening. Tryptophan is the amino acid needed to convert serotonin into melatonin. Sleep inducing foods include: whole grains, nut butters, bananas, grapefruit, dates, figs, yogurt, turkey and tuna.  Heavy protein foods are not recommended before retiring for the night. Be sure to sleep in complete darkness. A cool, very dark room helps the pineal gland produce melatonin. Deepen sleep with soothing sound like water or other night sounds. In the morning, arise with natural sunlight. Help melatonin cascade into serotonin by eating complex carbs and getting at least 20 minutes of sun exposure. Exercise moderately about 30 minutes of aerobic activity early in the day. Sacred Seven® amino acids balance circadian rhythm by supporting optimal hypothalamic functioning which helps with insomnia.

Sacred Seven amino acids formulated to optimize hypothalamic function and restore normal circadian rhythm

Best Diet & Exercise for Healthy Hormones

Ever wonder what's the best diet/exercise/lifestyle regime for healthy hormones? Well, so did this woman...

Q: I have been taking Genesis Gold and Sacred Seven for a little over two months now, and I am amazed at the changes I have been experiencing. I sleep better, have more energy during the day, my mood has become more positive, my hair and skin are soft and radiant, and my libido has been improved. I am hopeful that my hormone levels will improve, I will be able to lose weight, and my fertility will increase. Just have to give it more time.

I am not only writing to tell you thanks for the wonderful products, but to ask a question, too. I am wondering if you could give me a few pointers on a healthy diet/lifestyle? There are so many fad diets out there, and each claim to be the best. Some claim carbs are good, some claim carbs are bad. Same goes with fat. I know that it isn't always black and white like that, some carbs/fats are better than others. But all the information I see and hear contradicts each other. I really want to lose weight and keep my heart healthy, but my medical issues make it very challenging. I am hoping that now that I take your wonderful supplements I may have some success. I would very much appreciate your input on what your idea of a healthy diet is. Thank you so much.

A: I am so happy you are experiencing such wonderful effects from Genesis Gold and Sacred Seven. Overtime your hormone levels will improve. The first changes are described as enhanced well being...before the laboratory tests confirm the biochemical shifts. 

It does take time for the hypothalamus to come into balance as your body heals...reproductive hormones are the last to balance... Reversal of insulin resistance, along with adrenal and thyroid regulation comes first as the hypothalamic-pituitary axis corrects. The fact that your mood is more positive suggests increased endorphins which is a byproduct of proopiomelanocortin--the hypothalamic hormone that controls glucose metabolism, adrenal and thyroid function as well as endorphins.

The good news is that your body is readjusting to a healthier state which includes a healthier weight set point. 

Of course exercise is key in increasing metabolism.  Your exercise tolerance and endurance should increase as your hypothalamus balances. In order to burn fat, you must do long slow distances....meaning exercising at a lower heart rate >60% of your max over 50 minutes to mobilize fat stores. That's because you have 400 calories of glycogen stored in your muscle and liver that must be utilized before your body will burn the triple sugars (triglycerides) stored in your fat cells.

Now for the perfect weight loss diet!

Well, there is not One Diet for Every Body... One great thing about optimizing your genetic expression with Genesis Gold is that you will "know" exactly what your body needs. In the meantime, I recommend the Mediterranean Diet.

Not just because I'm Italian (Maragopoulos is Greek), but because the Mediterranean Diet has been shown in studies to be the healthiest for the majority of people. It's plant based, low glycemic, and uses moderate amounts of good fats and has adequate protein. That combination is best for hormone production. Moderate amounts of good fats promotes healthy hormone levels....low fat does not. Plus animal based proteins provide the necessary essential amino acids for hormone production and healthy brain chemistry as well as immune factors. All very important for proper hypothalamic functioning. 

Low fat diets with poor quality proteins are a recipe for hormonal dysfunction leading to hypothalamic-pituitary imbalance.

The secret is to eat less carb calories than you expend. I know calories are calories, but your body can easily break down carbohydrates into glucose, it takes much more work (energy and enzymes) to break down fats and proteins into glucose for energy. If you exercise in Long Slow Distances a few times a week AND consume less carbohydrate calories, you force your body to go into your fat storage for energy. 

Now your weight will not change right away--fat weighs much less than lean body mass (muscle and bone)--but you will lose inches as your body composition shifts.

Another secret is to consume NO CARBS after 4pm. That does not include non-starchy vegetables. Between 3-5pm, your adrenals take a siesta. You will crave carbs, but avoiding them will force your body to use its stored sugar, then is the time to add a second workout...one of those Long Slow Distances...to burn fat. 

Your morning exercise should be more aerobic, even interval training to keep your heart rate up. That will set your metabolism at a higher rate for the rest of the day. If you workout at this pace in the late afternoon, you will have trouble sleeping.

Your metabolism is lowest at night. By sleeping in the dark high melatonin levels will help reverse insulin resistance. You will begin to notice that you wake up hungry in the morning. That means your adrenal function is normalizing and your hypothalamus is waking up and demanding glucose (the only form of energy the brain uses). So feed it! Start with fruit. (After your Genesis Gold and Sacred Seven, of course) After your early morning workout consume complex carb, light protein, a little fat....to keep your metabolism up.

Don't overdo the exercise. Aerobic activity 3-5 times a week. Long Slow Distances at least twice a week. Take one full day off every 5-7 days to allow your hypothalamus to adjust your new metabolic rate.

Yours in Health, Happiness and Beautiful Hormones :)

Deborah Maragopoulos MN FNP

Intuitive Integrative Medicine

Full Circle Family Health

805 640-3340

www.genesisgold.com

Your Hypothalamus—The Boss of Your Body

For the past fifteen years, I’ve discovered the root of many medical problems  to be miscommunication.  Miscommunication between the boss of your body and the complicated network of biochemicals that control all your body’s functions. Your Hypothalamus is the Boss of Your Body.

What is the Hypothalamus?

The hypothalamus is a small cluster of nerve cells at the base of the brain. Tiny compared to the brain, the hypothalamus weighs only 4 grams (the adult brain weighs 1400 grams). Most of your brain is like a giant computer storing megabytes of information. Your hypothalamus is the operating system orchestrating all the software programs that run your body.

What does my Hypothalamus Do?

Your hypothalamus performs a wide range of functions that are vital for your survival. Your hypothalamus integrates all the basic functions of the body necessary for life, such as:

·        fluid and electrolyte balance

·        feeding behavior

·        weight control

·        energy metabolism

·        wake-sleep cycles

·        temperature regulation

·        stress responses

·        sexual behavior and reproduction

·        emotional expression

·        processing of sensory information

·        balancing of blood sugar

·        maintaining homeostasis

Where is my Hypothalamus?

Your hypothalamus is located just behind and between the eyes at the base of your brain. It contains very important nuclei (nerve cell clusters) that connect it with the rest of the brain and with the endocrine system which controls all your hormones.

Your hypothalamus sits at a crossroads in the brain, receiving direct sensory inputs from the smell, taste, visual, and tactile systems. These sensory inputs to the hypothalamus drive your emotional response and many of the phenomena associated with emotional expression (changes in heart rate, blushing, hair standing on end, etc.)

Why is my Hypothalamus so Important?

The hypothalamus is the master controller of all your hormones, your immune system, and your brain chemistry.

Most people think of the pituitary gland as the master gland controlling your hormones, but it is just a middle manager. It is the hypothalamus which regulates the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus secretes releasing hormones communicating with the anterior pituitary gland to produce stimulating hormones that control the thyroid, the adrenals, the ovaries and testes as well as the production of growth hormone and prolactin (which regulates your immune system).

Your hypothalamus also contains sensors that monitor your blood temperature, blood sugar and mineral levels, and your hormones. Your hypothalamus receives sensory inputs necessary to detect challenges within your body and in your environment.

So when things are different, when your body is no longer acting like it used to, when you go to the doctor and complain that something is not right—your sleep is disturbed, your moods are erratic, you’re getting sick more often, your body temperature is off, your weight is out of control—and all your blood tests are within normal limits…it just might be your hypothalamus that needs help.

How do I keep my Hypothalamus Healthy?

The hypothalamus is maestro of the entire symphony of hormones, neurotransmitters and immune factors. Plus it controls all our basic body functions including those essential for survival.

It’s about time, we get to the root of our health problems.

Thankfully, the hypothalamus is very responsive to nutritional therapeutics. That's why I created Genesis Gold --- to support the hypothalamus. If the maestro gets support, the whole orchestra is more harmonious.

Feed the body what it needs to heal and it will heal.