Three Fascinating Circadian Rhythm Facts You Need to Know

We talk a lot about circadian rhythm at Savant Science. In fact, our RestoreZ product line was developed solely around getting your circadian rhythm in sync so that you can reap the benefits of a well-running system that basically controls your entire well-being. Sound dramatic? Well, in a way, it is. Here are three powerful facts to know about your Circadian Rhythm and why it controls how you feel, react and function daily.

It’s all in your head.

Literally. Your circadian rhythm — or your master clock, in simpler terms — is located in your brain and controls much of your biological processes including sleeping, eating, drinking and hormone release. And if you want to get really scientific it’s all located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Inside the SCN is the clock that keeps our circadian rhythms on a 24-hour cycle of sleep and awake patterns.

It’s the ultimate timekeeper.

Twenty-four hours is all we get in a single day. There’s no getting around it. And no matter how hard we try to cheat to get more out of those hours, we’re really just fooling ourselves and hurting our bodies in the process. Our sleep/wake cycles are important and neither can be skipped or neglected. Our circadian rhythms keep our cycles in sync and tell our bodies when it’s time to rise in the morning and retreat to bed at night. To keep your circadian rhythm in optimal working order, it’s best to go to bed at the same time, sleep soundly through the night and get up around the same time every day. This will allow your body to be in balance, helping you feel more alert during the day and getting the restoration it needs during the night.

It could be the reason for health issues.

Again, as the ultimate time keeper, your internal clock tells your organs what time it is. When you try to cheat your natural clock and rhythm (keep bright lights on at night or room darkeners during the day) your whole system gets out of whack and utterly confused. Your body’s confusion can lead to breakdowns and often opens a door for illnesses and diseases. In fact, shift workers who are awake at odd or irregular hours are more susceptible to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. In short, our circadian rhythm and synchronization influences so much more than sleep. When all our body’s processes are working together instead of against each other, healthy body weight, cardiovascular and mental function are optimized and we feel energized, refreshed and ready to tackle each and every day.