Strengthen the immune system: Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone that is produced in the pineal gland - part of the diencephalon - from serotonin and controls the human body's day-night rhythm. 

Studies provide evidence that melatonin can help fight flu and Covid 19 in different ways

• it has an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect.
• It has a positive effect on other illnesses such as diabetes, sleep disorders and some cardiovascular diseases.
• It could enhance the effect of vaccinations.

Children have a high melatnonin level compared to adults. This is being discussed in medicine as a possible reason why children are less likely to develop Covid 19 and often less severely than adults.

How melatonin is produced

The body produces melatonin itself when it is dark. The ideal situation for the production of melatonin is to have no light on after sunset. This is impossible for most of us. The blue light from screens (computers or mobile phones) in particular inhibits melatonin production.

What I do

• I use blue light filter glasses, especially in the evening, which filter out the blue light from the screen.
• I try to be outside for at least 30 minutes in daylight and dim the lights in the evening and try not to be at the screen after 8.00 pm...
• I occasionally take 5Http, a substance from which the body then produces melatonin itself.
  
  What you can do

• If you often have problems sleeping, you could have your melatonin levels tested.
• Use computer glasses to filter out blue light.
• Reduce light in the evening.

To the series "Strengthening the immune system"

Many people are tired of winter. Their health and emotions suffer. As Coach I know that it is harmful when people feel that they can do nothing and are at the mercy of others.

But it is not the case that we are helplessly at the mercy of viruses:

• Protection through distance: By keeping our distance, we try to prevent the virus from getting to us
• Protection through the immune system: A strong immune system helps to fight the virus effectively.

There is little talk in the press and politics about how to strengthen your immune system. That's why I'm presenting tips in this series that anyone and everyone can do.

One thing is clear: none of these tips alone will be able to fight the virus completely. But they could help you and your immune defences to become stronger, perhaps 1%. These could be the crucial 1%s that decide whether or not you catch Covid 19 or another virus.

If many of us improve our defences by 1% or 5% or 10%, this could lead to an improvement in the incidence of infection and an earlier end to the lockdown. That is my hope.

You can find a collection of tips for strengthening the immune system in my free e-book Strengthen the immune system.