Tag: body

Circadian Rhythm

Todays post is about circadian rhythm. This is a subject that has recently made its way into mainline media. So we have decided to share what we know and have learned about it.

What is Circadian Rhythm?

Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioural changes that follow a 24-hour cycle. These natural processes respond primarily to light and dark and affect most living things, including animals, plants, and microbes. Basically, it is the bodies’ own internal clock. This biological clock is a natural timing device, regulating the cycle of circadian rhythms.

Nearly every tissue and organ contains biological clocks. They’re composed of specific molecules (proteins) that interact with cells throughout the body. A master clock in the brain coordinates all the biological clocks in the body, keeping the clocks in sync. In humans, the master clock is a group of about 20,000 nerve cells (neurons) that form a structure called the suprachiasmatic nucleus, or SCN.

The SCN is in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus and receives direct input from the eyes. It also controls the production of melatonin, a hormone that makes you sleepy.

What does it do?

Our Circadian rhythm is so much more than an internal clock. It is a control mechanism that influences important bodily functions such as eating habits, digestion, blood pressure, body temperature and hormone release. Most specifically, it controls the hormones that determine our level of alertness or sleepiness.

The rhythm is affected by external stimuli mostly light. Jet lag, shift work and light from electronic devices at night can confuse our biological clocks. These changes can cause sleep disorders, and may lead to other chronic health conditions.

This is why the use of blue screen devices before bed can have a negative impact on sleep. Once our eyes see the blue light, the master clock thinks that it is daytime and releases the appropriate hormones, such as cortisol, for that time of day.

If your circadian rhythm is off it can mean impaired sleep. This is when sleep is not good quality, not long enough or you may not be getting the right type of sleep at the right time. Too much impaired sleep can lead to poor feelings of alertness during the day and a general feeling of needing more sleep because basically you do.

Can you fix your Circadian Rhythm?

Circadian rhythm miss alignment is often treated with anti-psychotics and anti-depressants however, as always there are side effects. There are other ways of correcting your circadian rhythm.

Taking melatonin can be a way of resetting the rhythm of your sleep but not recommended as a long-term plan, as it does not address the underlying issue. From a naturopathic perspective it is preferable to treat the cause. This can include a number of factors; diet, sleep routine, lifestyle and exercise.

Looking at your diet to determine if you are eating the appropriate foods to allow the body to create the neurotransmitters needed to maintain the correct rhythm. Develop a sleep routine reducing screen time at least half an hour before bed.

If you are still are struggling with sleep after making these changes, there are more options. You could visit a sleep clinic or consult with a health professional to undergo testing for circadian rhythm sleep disorder. This involves checking your levels of melatonin, cortisol and your core temperature.

We hope that you have found this information helpful.

 Till the next post,

Live clean n Prosper

 Sources – Torrens University of Australia, Science Direct, National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Some information about Body Odour

Todays post is about body odour.

 I have previously written about sweating and how important this bodily function is. This time I thought I would look at why some people smell more than others.

 With the warm, humid weather we have here in Queensland, many of us has experienced a person in a public space who is a bit ‘on the nose’. The time of day is not necessarily a factor.

 Some people naturally sweat more or less than other people. Body odour also can vary from person to person. Sweating and body odour are common when we exercise or the body gets too warm. They’re also common reactions that occur when a person is feeling nervous, anxious or stressed.

 There are many different factors that can contribute to body odour.

 So what creates the odour ?

 Sweating and body odour are caused by sweat glands in your body. The sweat glands are used to regulate temperature and remove waste. They do this by secreting water, sodium salts, and nitrogenous waste (such as urea) onto the skin surface. This fluid is odourless until it combines with bacteria on the surface of the skin.

The formation of body odour is caused by several factors such as diet, gender, health, and medications. However, the major contribution comes from bacterial activity on the skin.

The types of bacterial flora living on the skin surface influence the resulting smell.

Skin bacteria

Our skin is home to millions of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses that compose the skin microbiome.  After the gut, there are more microorganisms on the skin than anywhere else in the body.

As the largest organ of the human body, the skin is colonised by beneficial microorganisms. It serves as a physical barrier to prevent the invasion of pathogens. In circumstances where the barrier is broken or when the balance is disturbed, skin disease or even systemic disease can result.

With increasing age, the skin microflora undergoes change.  The bacteria streptococci which are found in infants disappear. The coryneform bacteria start to develop, which are mainly responsible for odour production. This is why body odour isn’t a problem for young children as it usually begins at puberty. The rising hormones called androgens that become active during puberty, contribute to the changes.

There are several common types of coryneform bacteria found on the skin.

These include Corynebacterium, Corynebacterium jeikeium and Staphylococcus hominis.

Corynebacterium manufacture enzymes that break down the oils in sweat to create smaller molecules.

Greater bacteria amounts of Corynebacterium jeikeium are found more in the armpits of men. Alternatively, greater amounts of Staphylococcus haemolyticus are found in the armpits of women.

The smaller molecules created by the bacteria are usually different types of acids. These acids produce different odours.

 What to do about it?

 Regular thorough washing of the skin with a wet washcloth and soap,  especially those areas prone to sweating, can help prevent body odour. The most commonly used approach is antiperspirants and deodorants.

An antiperspirant is designed to block and stop the sweating, whereas a deodorant is designed to neutralise to odour.

However, using antiperspirant and deodorant completely rearranges the microbial ecosystem of the skin. At this stage scientists do not really know what effect, if any, that has on our skin and on our health.

 I hope you found this information interesting,

 Till the next post

 Live clean n Prosper

(Sources – Dermnet NZ, US National Library of Medicine, Science Daily.

Mood Disorders and the Gut

HI, Scott here. While I am on holidays from UNI I have decided to write a post for our blog.

Since my studies are focused on treating anxiety, depression and PTSD what better subject to start with.

None of these conditions are simple or simple to treat. First is to identify which mood disorder followed by identifying the cause.

There are many reasons people suffer from a mood disorder. It may have been triggered by a traumatic experience or a result of poor dietary practices. Trauma does not need to be a specific event. It could be a result of a series of things that have built up to have a cumulative effect. Just as diet doesn’t need to be recent, it could be that a persons diet as a child was lacking which has had long lasting effect the body.

So, what to do about it,

My belief is that a multi-pronged approach is needed. This will mean lifestyle and diet changes with the addition of some specific, medicinal herbs and counselling.

For some it may also mean accepting that things will not be the same as they were before. When we say “I just wish that I could be the way I was when” this may not be possible simply because life changes us every day we live it. Equally, this does not mean that we need to go through life suffering or causing pain to those who love us.

The body is an amazing thing that conventional medicine thinks of as a machine but in my view is so much more than that.

The way the bodies systems work with each other, is like a giant 3D jigsaw that is in constant motion. Its just incredible to think that it is continually changing shape, growing and shedding all the time. This also means that by giving the body what it needs actually helps the body and mind to heal itself.

How does this work?

Primarily, the work is done in the gut or microbiome. This process is truly fascinating and has become my passion.

There are many scientific papers that discuss the importance of the microbiome and its effect on our mood and personality. A 2016 article in “The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry” looks at the influence of the microbiota on the development of PTSD with some interesting results. By looking at how gut bacteria produce neurotransmitters like Serotonin, Dopamine and GABA.

Put simply, what we eat directly affects the structure and function of the brain and, ultimately, our mood. Few people are aware of the connection between nutrition and depression. It is easier to understand the connection between nutritional deficiencies and physical illness.

Depression is more typically thought of as strictly biochemical or emotionally based. However, science has discovered that nutrition can play a key role in the onset as well as severity and duration of depression. There are actually more neurotransmitters produced in the gut than in the brain.

Like an expensive car, the brain functions best when it gets only premium fuel. Eating high-quality foods that contain lots of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants nourishes the brain.

Diets high in refined sugars, for example, are harmful to the brain. Multiple studies have found a correlation between a diet high in refined sugars and impaired brain function and a worsening of symptoms of mood disorders.

What does all this mean for people suffering with a mood disorder?

It means when reaching for that soft drink, cheeseburger or deep fried snack. Take a moment to think about your mental health and the effect that your diet may have on it.

Identifying a diet that has a positive effect on mental health is a whole other subject, however, a whole food diet is going to be most beneficial. This means that if you can’t identify what you are eating, chances are it’s not doing you, or your mental health any favours.

Till the next post,

Live clean n Prosper

(Sources –
The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience –
Harvard Medical School – 
US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health )