(06-06-09) Turn off the Lights for Healthier Sex Organs

by Tiffany Boutwell

It turns out that setting a romantic mood by lighting candles during sex may be good in more ways than one. Several scientific studies have linked artificial lighting at nighttime to breast and prostate cancers.

One study completed by
the University of Haifa in Israel found that of 164 countries studied, the
countries most brightly lit during twilight hours had the highest rates of
these two cancers. These industrialized countries also had more than double the cancer rates as those countries in the dark, so to speak. Research has also been conducted in the United States by the American National Cancer Institute and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Their research also concluded that there is a greater risk of breast and prostate cancer when people are exposed to artificial lights in developed countries.

The key to this discovery lies in the melatonin levels in one's body. Melatonin, a hormone produced to help regulate your sleeping and wake cycles, or circadian rhythm, also plays a role in your immune system, body temperature, and endocrine functions. "Melatonin interferes with the tumor`s ability to use linoleic acid
as a growth signal, which causes tumor metabolism and growth activity to shut down." Dr. David Blask, M.D., Ph.D., a neuro-endocrinologist said. He is a researcher for Bassett Research Institute and a lead author on one of the studies. Blask also states "Evidence is emerging that disruption of a person's body clock is associated with cancer in humans, and that interference with internal timekeeping can tip the balance in favour of tumour development." This
is where the problem with artificial lighting comes in. Your body is unsure if it is day or night because of the lighting and it begins decreasing production of melatonin which in turn, causes your system to go haywire.

The good news is you don`t have to go completely primitive to reduce your risk of breast and prostate cancers, although getting back to a more natural state of living is better for your body. Just 20 minutes of natural sunlight in the morning can help reset your body to producing optimum melatonin during evening hours. Also,
sleeping in complete darkness with no lighting from television can help ensure your body doesn`t decrease it`s melatonin production. And what better excuse do you need to turn off the lights and get a little closer to your special someone than preventing cancer?

To read more about the research conducted, visit bio-medicine.org.

Sources:
*http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Health...
*http://www.bio-medicine.org/biology...
*Reader`s Digest May 2009

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