Cancer prevention and deep sleep are connected, here's how

Benefits of sleep: By prioritizing deep, restorative sleep, we can bolster our immune system's ability to detect and prevent cancer cells from proliferating, thus reducing our susceptibility to cancer (Image: Canva)

Cancer is a complex disease that demands a comprehensive approach. Alongside conventional treatments, including nutrition, supplements, and other therapies, one critical aspect not to overlook is the importance of deep sleep.

During sleep, our body repairs, heals, recovers, rebuilds, regenerates, and cleanses. Whether one is looking at preventing cancer, managing an existing cancer, undergoing therapies or surgical treatment for cancer, or maintaining remission of cancer, sleep is fundamental, says Luke Coutinho, an integrative lifestyle expert

He says that when we understand the processes and magic that occur during sleep, we realise how no drug, food, supplement, or magic oil can replace what a good night of rest can provide.

Melatonin: The anti-cancer hormone

Melatonin is a hormone that is not just responsible for sleep. It is also connected to immunity and cancer. It has been scientifically documented as an anti-cancer hormone, a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, and a lack of it can make cancer worse. When you sleep, melatonin freely roams around your body, boosts your immunity, and acts like a soldier looking out for cells that are proliferating abnormally. That is why sleep is essential for healing, prevention, and for our entire circadian rhythm.

Darkness stimulates healthy production of melatonin. Try to make your sleeping sanctuary as dark as possible or use a nice sleep mask.

Building a well-trained immune system

The fact that cancer found a way to proliferate in one's body means that the immune system was compromised at some point. Cancer cannot thrive in a body that has a well-primed immune system. Do you know the biggest dampener for your immunity? Chronic sleep deprivation.

Natural Killer (NK) cells, a vital component of our immune defense, are particularly active during deep sleep. Research indicates that sleep deprivation can significantly impair NK cell function, with studies showing a staggering 70 percent reduction in NK cell activity after just one night of poor sleep.

By prioritising deep, restorative sleep, we can bolster our immune system's ability to detect and prevent cancer cells from proliferating, thus reducing our susceptibility to cancer, says Coutinho.

Gene expression

Poor DNA and gene health have connections with almost every disease, including cancer. Genes can be turned on and off for better or worse by our lifestyle and environment.

The field of study called epigenetics also talks about the impact our environment has on the expression of genes. This includes the food we eat, our sleep, exercise, stress levels, toxic exposure, weather, sunlight, radiation, chronic inflammation, UV light, ultra-processed and processed food, and many other factors. Especially concerning sleep, its chronic deprivation can alter gene expression and turn on certain cancer genes and turn off anticancer genes.