Hey there! Did you know that poor quality sleep might up your risk of developing breast cancer? Yep, a recent study found that out. Apparently, melatonin, this hormone your brain churns out when you’re tired, plays a big role in preventing tumors.

So, here’s the deal: when you skimp on sleep, you’re also skimping on melatonin. And that’s not good news for your body. Night shift workers and those who juggle both day and night shifts, listen up – you’re at a higher risk.

The researchers behind the study went all out. They grew tumors from stem cells and played around with different chemicals that affect tumor growth. They found that melatonin treatment could actually shrink both the number and size of tumors. Pretty cool, right?

But it gets even better. When they hit those tumors with estrogen or Bisphenol A (a chemical found in lots of plastic food packaging), along with melatonin, the tumors didn’t shrink as much. So, it’s like melatonin was the superhero fighting off those cancer-causing chemicals.

The scientists behind the study are stoked about this discovery. They say it’s a game-changer for screening chemicals that might mess with cancer cells. And get this – melatonin, the hero of our story, is only produced by the brain’s pineal gland at night. It’s what keeps our sleep cycle in check, making sure we feel tired at night and fresh in the morning.

But here’s the kicker: as we age, our melatonin production starts to drop. For some folks, it might even vanish altogether. Scary stuff, right? So, make sure you’re catching those Z’s – your body will thank you for it!