Helix Clinic blog

In 2007, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (which is part of the WHO) listed shift work as a possible human carcinogen. This listing was based on studies that showed that shift workers are at a 48% higher risk of developing breast cancer than women who work regular daytime hours.

The body’s production of melatonin is reduced if night time is spent in artificial light. Melatonin acts to keep the biological clock ticking so that you are alert during the day and sleep at night, but is thought to also play a role in cancer protection.

There is evidence suggesting the night shift effect is also linked to reproductive health. A Danish study of 40000 women showed that night workers were more likely to have lower-weight babies or longer lasting pregnancies, potentially increasing the risks of still birth.

The ancient Chinese were keen observers of biological cycles, and used the language of yin and yang to describe their observations. They have long noted that staying up late or working into the night can deplete the ‘yin energy’, and over long periods of time, they also noticed that this deficiency can lead to fertility and reproductive problems or more serious illnesses such as cancer.

Tags: cancer, melatonin, yin energy

Ever wondered what it would be like if lemons tasted sweet instead of sour? Well, in 1725 an explorer called Des Marchais found a plant in West Africa that was named Synsepalum Dulcificum, but more commonly known now as the Miracle Fruit plant.

It produces berries that contain an active glycoprotein molecule caled miraculin. When eaten, the molecule binds to the tongue’s taste buds and temporarily changes our sense of taste for up to two hours, causing bitter and sour foods to taste sweet!

This is amazing in itself, but potentially there is also a very useful medical application for this fruit. Chemotherapy patients often experience a nasty side effect of their treatment that causes them to develop a metallic taste in their mouth so that normal food tastes awful. Some cancer patients have found that this effect is temporarily helped by eating some miracle fruit, allowing them to enjoy normal tasting food once more.

You can find out more information, order berries or even buy seedlings so you can grow your own plant at the Miracle Fruit website.

Tags: cancer, chemotherapy, miracle fruit