I've been perusing some of the mags that are piling up
around here, and came across an article in Newsweek
regarding sleep and sleep probs.

The two most important supplements are SLEEP and
EXCERCISE! They are totally free!

You'e body NEEDS 7-8 hours of restful sleep each
and every night. This is when you're cells and your
brain get to regenerate themselves for the torture
you are going to put them through the next day.

I am convinced that ALL diseases will respond to a
regimen of sleep and excercise. Now, I am not talking
about having to join a gym or spend oodles of bucks
on excercise equipment, just plain old walking.
It's FREE! Take a few deep breaths while walking
to rejuvenate your total body.

The recent articles about Ambien and Lunesta just
serve to highlight the extent of the sleep problem
that is epidemic in size. These drugs just anesthetize
the brain. No way for the brain/body to rejuvenate
itself when it is in a coma!

Couple this with the SAD diet and you have the
genesis of every major malady. You really must take
the initiative to remove harmful fast foods from your
diet and start to eat foods that give your cells the
nutrients they crave.

Docs are finally starting to realize that ultimate health
does not have to come on a prescription pad.

Natural items such as chamomile, valerian, fish oils, were
on your grandma's list of healthy living supplements,
and she knew that they promoted healthful sleep along
with strong bodies and clear minds.

Just try to avoid all of the "plastic foods" that are
available to us. (Oh...but they are soooo convenient)

Eat real food. Go for a walk EVERY day. Listen to the
birds. Watch the wildlife. Sleep like a baby! Be Healthy!

H

Just for emphasis, it's not just the hours, but the darkness (night) as well. Our bodies have their diurnal (daylight) cycle, responding to light and its absence. I still have to dig it out, but I believe it has something to do with melatonin and growth hormone secretion occurring in the earlier parts of darkness and sleep. Sleeping by midnight, even if we get 8 hours, is not good enough -- we would have missed the melatonin and GH cycles.

Circulation is also shifted to different parts of the body during sleep and darkness, which is why deadly substances like cancer chemo have varying toxicities if given at different times of the day. If I remember right, cancer chemo is least harmful if given in the wee hours of the morning because circulation is away from liver and kidneys.

Sorry, I don't have the references with me right now.

Gerry

Gerry, It was your simile, if I recall: Exercise is King and nutrition is Queen.

Now if you add sleep it seems to fall apart. Is sleep a mistress, or a lover, or a Jack?

__________________
Imagined knowledge kills learning . . .
The cure for boredom is curiosity...there is no cure for curiosity..

Anybody notice that the advent of "the sleep problem" epidemic, closely follows the rise in popularity of Starbucks, and multiple 16 oz coffees during the day and evening ?

"Anybody notice that the advent of "the sleep problem" epidemic, closely follows the rise in popularity of Starbucks, and multiple 16 oz coffees during the day and evening ?"

Hmmm. How about trying a little mad scientist experiment, put decaf in the office coffeemaker for three weeks. Then once everyone has gotten over their caffeine addiction, switch to espresso!

Uh, oh... now we have a love triangle?

But first, I don't lay any claim to the saying. I read it first from Jack Lalanne, and am just passing it on. :wink: I believe in it, though.

As for the "love triangle," it may not have to be so. I recall that a very important tenet in bodybuilding is that exercise does not build muscle. Rather, muscle is built during the rest periods in between. Exercise is just the stimulus. And the rest periods are just as important as the physical activity of the exercise. So we may view the rest (including sleep) as an integral part of "exercise" and so exercise/rest would just be one. (Good enough excuse? :wink: )

As with muscle building, I think the same will hold true for the other benefits of exercise. The physical activity is just the stimulus, but the benefits like enhanced immune response, better circulation and fat burning will occur during the rest/recovery period.

Gerry

OK Gerry. That does sound like something that Jack would say.

By the way, here is something I ran across recently.

www.contactplus.com/lifewave/details.htm

In part:

"The LifeWave technology is a passive device composed of orthomolecular organic structures arranged parallel to the plane of human thermomagnetic rotation. The LifeWave device initiates an induced flow of electrons within the user, much in the same way that a generator produces electricity. This action improves the efficiency of muscle contraction by recruiting more calcium ions through attraction (allows for formation of actomyosin) and improves the efficiency of muscle mass usage (more muscle fibers in a group contract during the contraction phase). The end result is that within minutes of wearing the LifeWave device, the user becomes physically stronger."

Any thoughts on this? Sounds to me like Barnum is alive and well

__________________
Imagined knowledge kills learning . . .
The cure for boredom is curiosity...there is no cure for curiosity..

Jump on the bandwagon - they need distributors! Lifewave costs $89.95 (why won't they say a round $90?) per month.
Has anyone tried it?

Swanson's sell L-Ornithine & L-ArGININE
in a cap. What's the difference?

(obviously, L-Arginine is different than
L-Carnatine, but I need to understand
the difference)

JPS, I took this brief summary from www.herbalremedies.com


What is Arginine?

Arginine is a essential amino acid. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and protein is the building block of all living cells. The natural sources of arginine are brown rice, nuts, popcorn, raisins, and whole-wheat products. Arginine have a greatest potential to prevent or reduce cardiovascular disease by stimulating nitric oxide, a compound that relaxes blood vessels. It is also use to prevent aging, enhance memory, eliminate depression, control stress, improve sleep, improve wound healing, relieve arthritis, reduce herpes, arrest alcoholism, manage allergies, promote hair growth, combat fatigue, stimulate the immune system, cure impotence, and fight cancer.

Enhances immune function.
Increases growth hormone production.
Promote healthy erectile function.
Enhance circulation throughout the body.
Helpful for hepatitis.
Stimulates production of insulin.
--------------------------------

L Ornithine, 500mg - 120 Caps
L-Ornithine is an amino acid that has been used by fitness enthusiasts for years. L-Ornithine is a non-essential amino acid and is manufactured by the body. Since the body can produce ornithine, a deficiency of this non-essential amino acid is rare and it is abundant in protein foods such as meat, fish, dairy, and eggs.
Ornithine is important since it:

Induces the release of growth hormone in the body, which in turn helps with fat metabolism
Required for a properly functioning immune system and liver.
Assists in ammonia detoxification and liver Rejuvenation
Helps healing and repairing skin and tissue and is found in both these body parts.
Unsupported claims that ornithine promotes muscle building, but this has not been proven.
Helpful for people recouping after surgery and athletes may benefit from this nutrient.

I did.

I don't think I made myself clear.

The author of the article in question, gives his "recipe"
and explains his theories. The common ingredient is:

L-Ornothine.

He suggests mixing this, in specific volumes, with:

L-Carnatine.

My comment was that Swanson's vitamins already
offers L-Ornothine mixed with:

L-Arginine.

Their catalog states that this combo is a way to support
the body's release of Growth Hormone. (Just like the author)

Again, the question: How does L-Arginine (Swanson's) differ
from L-Carnatine in the "recipe?"

Sounds like Swanson has the product on the market right now.

Taking specific amino acid supplements can be of no use if one is otherwise deficient in protein. All those specific amino acids we throw our money on will just be converted to whatever the body needs.

I think the better approach is to take those amino acids as part of our protein intake. Ensure more than enough protein in our diet and we don't have to worry about those specific amino acids. It may come out cheaper and more enjoyable, too.

As for making our own growth hormone, while supplying the needed amino acids is essential, that may not be enough. The stimuli and proper conditions for its formation are also needed.

One stimulus I know for GH formation and release is exercise of large muscle groups. Thus, squats and deadlifts do this very well, particularly for bodybuilders, where GH is needed for their muscle growth.

Proper condition of release: sleep and darkness, particularly in the first few hours after sunset.

So it's still exercise and rest/sleep, plus a more than adequate protein amount in our diets. (Why more than adequate? Well... just to be sure. :wink: )

Gerry

Your "hands on" experiment is very interesting.

Pls. keep us informed of your status/progress/failure.

This kind of exchange is worth the visit to this forum.

Gerry,

In your experience in the animal kingdom, do animals that
"work" in the fields fare better than animals that stand around
in the barnyard? i.e. less disease, other medical conditions?

Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 5:40 pm
I know I'm miles behind this subject here.

I was interested in this as I am a day or late night sleeper and always tired. And yes I still sleep with the TV on (and have digital now - really bad move).

Anyway I would think the chinese body clock would have a lot to do with these things.
I try not to eat sugar type things between 9-11am as I know my stomach is at rest.
Also I remember when doing accupressure the tutor telling us
that more women are now getting cirrosis of the liver as they are in the nightclubs drinking till early hours where as it was just men up late before.

https://www.sakara.net/bodyclock.html
https://www.acupunctureworks.co.uk/Acu&BodyClock.html