sleep

The Profound Health Benefits of Being Grateful

Gratitude is a simple practice that can have profound effects on your health and well-being. Its underpinnings are believed to be principles of cooperation that were pivotal in the development of human communication and social reciprocity, and the ability to experience gratitude to others is a fundamental feature of human cognition.1 The positive effects linked […]

Melatonin For Children? A Guide for Parents

Melatonin For Children? A Guide for Parents

Pediatricians  frequently recommend melatonin for children with sleep problems, or parents might try it themselves. However, the proper use of melatonin is frequently misunderstood. Here is a guide for parents and pediatricians to decide if a child should try it, and to understand how it should be used. A common thread I find in children […]

Why Boosting Your Immune System Makes You Feel Sicker (And 8 Other Facts That Will Protect Your Health)

Why Boosting Your Immune System Makes You Feel Sicker (And 8 Other Facts That Will Protect Your Health)

“You have a supercharged immune system…and that is why you’re so sick.” I’ll never forget the words from my immunologist. It was the same speculation I heard a week earlier from my oncologist, right after a relieving conversation where she shared that I didn’t have cancer. If I’m being open, this was the third time […]

Excess Sleep Can Increase Stroke Risk by 85%

Excess Sleep Can Increase Stroke Risk by 85%

While the pitfalls of too little sleep have been well documented, there are also risks of sleeping too much, which is generally defined as more than nine hours a night. Specifically, excessive sleep, along with long midday naps, may increase your risk of stroke, according to a Chinese study involving 31,750 people.1 It’s unclear exactly […]

5 Surprising Reasons Winter is the Best Time to Lose Weight

5 Surprising Reasons Winter is the Best Time to Lose Weight

You’d think the season that makes you want to curl up on the couch with a heated blanket, a bowl of beef stew and a hunk of bread might be the worst time to expect to lose any weight. But you can make winter the best time for weight loss. The chilly season has loads […]

Less Than 5 Hours of Sleep Linked to Low Bone Density

Less Than 5 Hours of Sleep Linked to Low Bone Density

Far from being a waste of time, sleep is required for the maintenance of metabolic and biological homeostasis in your body. Without proper sleep, you become more prone to chronic illness of all kinds — including diabetes,1 heart disease,2 neurodegeneration3 and cancer.4 According to recent research, lack of sleep can even impact your bone density […]

Melatonin Has Anti-Inflammatory and Metabolic Effects

Melatonin Has Anti-Inflammatory and Metabolic Effects

Your body is a complex organism requiring quality sleep to function optimally. Your body’s circadian rhythms are a combination of biological clocks regulating everything from your metabolism to psychological functioning. One sure way to cause dysregulation of your biological clock is to skimp on sleep. Although you have a master clock in your brain to […]