Circadian Biorhythms

What The Circadian ?

Circadian health has been around for many years, however we have always focussed on 'sleep hygiene' per se when really we should think more holistically and focus on the rhythm behind sleep.

Human's and many other animals have their own internal body clock or biorhythms which are also know as the circadian rhythm.

So what does this circadian rhythm do ? Our circadian rhythm is really a 24-hour internal clock that goes between cycles of sleepiness and alertness at regular intervals, usually in a pattern.

Some people also refer to this as our sleep/wake cycle and it controls almost every biological system in our bodies, from our mood and performance patterns to our metabolic, immune and reproductive systems.

A part of our brain called the hypothalamus actually controls our circadian rhythm. It is also influenced by other things such as the amount of light and dark we are exposed to. When it’s dark at night, your eyes send a signal to the hypothalamus that it’s time to feel tired.

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We need sunlight and the blue light in the day to be alert and active, and we also need a dark night environment to stimulate our brain’s and body clock to sleep and recover.

It’s All Linked – Circadian Rhythms, Metabolism & Nutrition

Our rhythms and our metabolism are actually linked, molecularly and biochemically, genetically, and nutritionally. There are also what we call rhythms in obesity.

Our 'clock genes' interact and through them we make proteins and it influences important biochemical pathways that help with our metabolism in our cells. One example is that circadian clock proteins actually act as 'transcription factors' which basically help our bodies to make receptors, which are used in our metabolic tissues. 

These receptors then help control what clock genes and proteins get made and expressed. So it's all linked with feedback loops - which is how many systems in our body actually work.

If you would like to know more get in touch to find out how you can help your health with healthy sleep and circadian hygiene strategies.