Circadian Cycle: Know the famous biological clock

*This text has been prepared based on scientific articles, information received from health institutions and organizations, hospitals and health professionals. Consult a doctor or nutritionist for better guidance on the consumption of any substance.

All animals – even us humans – have some kind of internal clock. wanted circadian cycle, this integrated device is responsible for regulating the body’s basic metabolic functions and processes.

your body with it to know bedtime or time to eat, e.g. Our mood can also be affected by this biological timer, you know?

Interested in the subject? So keep reading and understand how the circadian cycle works!

How does our circadian cycle work?

Planet Earth takes almost 24 hours to complete one revolution around itself. Days and nights coincide with this time. And this was precisely the period that shaped the workings of all life on the planet.

Our bodies need to alternate different activities during that day.. It is the mental and physical processes that cause the organism to wear out, wear out or heal. And all these tasks should run in sync.

For example, the digestive system produces proteins that can break down food that reaches the intestines, but this must be done at the right times of meals. In order to regulate all functions, the body began to regulate our tasks at the right times of the day.

For this, nature created biological clocks, one of which is the circadian cycle – there are other cycles that take time other than one day; The transformation of plants throughout the year is a good indicator of this.

The famous “pacemaker” is located in our brain, more precisely, in the hypothalamus. This little part of the nervous system sends out signals at different times of the day. It gives advice on what actions to take.

Does the circadian cycle affect sleep?

One of the clearest examples of the circadian cycle is its effect on sleep. One of the main tasks of this regulatory mechanism is to check our bedtimethrough the release of the hormone melatonin.

Our bodies don’t stop while we sleep. Rather, it enters recovery mode. At night, we grow muscles, regulate the connections between brain neurons, synthesize the necessary proteins for the next day, and repair damage to important organs such as the heart.

But besides sleep, there are other factors that depend on our biological clock. New evidence shows that this cycle also regulates factors such as blood sugar and even weight management.

Also, everyone’s mental health can be affected by our ability to keep the circadian pacemaker in order. Research shows that neurodegenerative diseases, depression and bipolar disorderr may be linked to the deregulation of these systems.

All these discoveries, many of them very recent, show that this is just the tip of the iceberg, and we still have a lot to learn from the mechanisms nature has found to create life on Earth.

What happens when you switch from day to night?

If it is that important, it is clear that the regulation of the circadian cycle by the rotation of the planet is important. This is why switching from day to night can often be an unhealthy habit.

Of course, sometimes it’s okay to stay up all night. The biological clock is robust enough to realize that no single event creates a norm. But habit can program it and confuse our own organism.

These interruptions can be in the short term, or they can last for months or even years. It could be due to several reasons. HE jet lag it is one of the most common – it happens when we move from one time zone to another.

But there are other sources of imbalance. Altered work shifts or different sleep disturbances, especially among blind or elderly people, are other major sources of problems.

After all, how is the biological clock regulated?

We don’t have full control over our circadian cycle, but we can take steps to try to regulate it. Especially in cases where we notice some delay between the following days.

The first measure is undoubtedly improve sleep quality. This can be done with good sleep hygiene.

Another favor is to control the time spent asleep. It’s also important to get some sunbathing, exercise daily, avoid caffeine at night, and maintain a healthy diet.

The biological clock is a powerful tool that nature has given us through evolution, and it is now up to us to take care of it. Therefore, having good habits is an excellent way to take good care of our bodies.

So did you like the content? Seize the opportunity to share on your social networks and make your friends aware of this very important factor in our life. Follow TecMundo and stay informed!