Inflammation is one of the main contributors to accelerated aging for our skin and body. Certain foods and activities can cause this phenomenon in our bodies. Disrupting our circadian rhythm impacts aging because it leads to inflammation, meaning that our internal clock plays a large role in this process. In this post, we will explore the regulatory effects of circadian rhythms and how to optimize your internal circadian clock.

What Are Circadian Rhythms?

We usually think of circadian rhythms as they relate to sleep. It is our body’s natural process for rising and sleeping. As a result, we wake in the morning and slumber at night. However, this process does not only affect our sleep. Many of our body’s functions work in tandem with our circadian clock, such as hormone release, eating habits, digestion, and body temperature.

While this process regulates your body’s patterns, it is also influenced by factors such as light, dark, sleeping patterns, and eating habits. For instance, if you suffer from a sleep disorder, you sleep earlier or later than most people — and wake up very early or very late. These signs mean that your internal circadian rhythm impacts aging at a more pronounced level.

The shift does not always have to be as severe as a sleeping disorder. It can be a temporary change due to:

• Jet lag
• Night shift work

Your Circadian Rhythm Impacts Aging Through Inflammation

Inflammation is your body’s process of fighting against injuries, infections, and harmful disruptors. It is an immune system response that releases antibodies and proteins to repair any damaged areas. This process tends to be short, lasting only for a couple of hours. But chronic inflammation extends this process, leaving your body on high alert for longer periods of time. When you suffer from an autoimmune disorder, for example, your immune system is constantly in overdrive.

However, more insidious factors such as prolonged stress, smoking, unhealthy eating, obesity, and alcohol consumption can trigger inflammation that leads to illness. These factors may disrupt your circadian clock and increase your risk of inflammatory diseases, such as heart disease, lung disease, strokes, arthritis, and cancer.

As we age, these rhythms naturally become less intense. We can amplify them by optimizing our internal clock.

How to Optimize Your Circadian Clock

Now that you know how your circadian rhythm impacts aging, you must learn how to combat inflammation by re-balancing your internal clock. There are two main ways to go about this process.

#1: Diet

Eat a healthy, nutritious diet full of anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits and vegetables. You may also engage in the circadian rhythm diet. This diet involves eating during an eight to twelve hour period during daytime hours and fasting the rest of the time.

#2: Sleep

Sleeping at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every morning will do wonders for regulating your circadian clock. Ask your physician about taking melatonin supplements if you find it difficult to sleep at a reasonable time every night.

Find Relief from Inflammation

While a healthy diet and good sleeping habits can help relieve inflammation, you may need more help regulating your immune system response. For a consultation on cell therapy for anti-aging, reach out today or call us at 1-800-826-5366.