I couldn't find any full Peat's essay on the Pineal gland or melatonin except this:
SOURCE:
http://www.keelynet.com/interact/Arc_7_98-12_98/00001190.htm
QUOTE: from: Using Sunlight to Sustain Life
by Raymond Peat, Ph.D., Ray Peat's Newsletter
Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients, June 1996, Page 83 - 85
Many health food stores are now selling melatonin, to reduce sleep
and "prevent cancer". They have taken some information out of
context, and don't realize how dangerous melatonin is. It makes
the brain sluggish, causes the sex organs to shrink, and damages
immunity by shrinking the thymus gland. It is the hormone of
darkness and winter, and is produced in the pineal gland by any
stress which increases adrenalin. Adequate sun light suppresses
the formation of melatonin.
Melatonin, or pineal hormone: the pineal gland in the brain
responds to an absence of light (or to any stress which increases
the adrenalin systems) by secreting a hormone called melatonin,
which lightens the skin, makes the brain sluggish, turns off
thyroid and progesterone production, and suppresses immunity and
fertility. UNQUOTE.
This taken together with his warnings about tryptophan and serotonin (precursors of melatonin) seems a bit controversial to me.
SOURCE:
http://raypeat.com/articles/aging/tryptophan-serotonin-aging.shtml
QUOTE: The polyunsaturated oils interact closely with serotonin and tryptophan, and the short and medium chain saturated fatty acids have antihistamine and antiserotonin actions. Serotonin liberates free fatty acids from the tissues, especially the polyunsaturated fats, and these in turn liberate serotonin from cells such as the platelets, and liberate tryptophan from serum albumin, increasing its uptake and the formation of serotonin in the brain. Saturated fats don’t liberate serotonin, and some of them, such as capric acid found in coconut oil, relax blood vessels, while linoleic acid constricts blood vessels and promotes hypertension. Stress, exercise, and darkness, increase the release of free fatty acids, and so promote the liberation of tryptophan and formation of serotonin. Increased serum linoleic acid is specifically associated with serotonin-dependent disorders such as migraine. UNQUOTE.
He also talks about sleep promoting estrogen and inflammation in his free essays recommending long day/light in the night.
Perhaps it all depends on the dose, too much sleep induces estrogen but just the right amount of high quality sleep with melatonin spike is needed for synchronizing the body systems for proper functioning. Also localization may be important, tryptophan may be dangerous in other parts of the body but brain like the PUFAs (DHA) are also concentrated in the brain. Even in EFAD state I guess DHA is still present in the brain. Also more tryptophan may be needed in the growing child or in a bodybuilder but not in a sedentary old adult.
I have seen some recommendations to consume banana or bread with milk and cheese 2 hours before sleep to deliver enough tryptophan to the brain for night melatonin production. When I tried this it felt good but when I tried the whey protein which is "superrich" in tryptophan my feeling was opposite. Coincidentally I have an IgG "allergy" to the globular/albumin proteins like whey and egg white which are rich in tryptophan. It may be wise to consume only low tryptophan protein like gelatin during the day and some cheese with carbohydrates in the evening. |
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
Prev Message
