Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I recently read about melatonin and sleep, about how only blue light has an effect on your sleep. But didn't Grok stay up late from time to time?

flag	asked Aug 20 2011 at 18:46 Korion 9,588●2●18●61

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Just cus Grok did it doesn't make it ideal especially for our lifestyles now. – The hacker formerly knownasron Aug 20 2011 at 19:10

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That is, of course, true, but Grok is often doing the right thing for his health without thinking about it. That's why I was interested. – Korion Aug 20 2011 at 19:57

Grok would have found it hard to resist a Sleep Number bed! lol – Nemesis Aug 20 2011 at 20:06

The Japsican · Accepted Answer · 2011-08-20 19:24:35Z UTC

Well, I think early man did indeed stay up from time to time.

Melatonin, as I'm sure you read, is secreted by the pineal gland during the dark hours of the night. This, assuming you have not down-regulated your melatonin receptors, should be enough to cause the feeling of sleepiness. But I'd say that it simply means one has a propensity to sleep at sundown, but doesn't imply that sleep at sundown will be a guarantee.

That being said, of course Grok might have had occasion to stay up late with stimulating activities like having fun, singing, dancing, watching out for predatory animals, intruders, inclimate weather, etc.

Remember, Epinephrine competes with melatonin receptor sites, reducing the sensation of sleepiness. Workout at 9pm and then try to go to bed at 10pm for an example of this.

But, more often than modern man, I'd say just by virtue of having a reduced amount of epi-stimulating activities, as well as less artificial light, sleep disturbances were most likely very rare. (those with such disturbances were probably unfit and selected out.)

The Grok meme can be useful in terms of it's simplicity to explain many "whys" but can often point one in the wrong direction as well.

Bryan · Answer 2 · 2011-08-20 19:09:25Z UTC

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Grok probably did not sleep monophasically. In fact, it seems like nobody did until the industrial revolution and the light bulb.

answered Aug 20 2011 at 19:09

Bryan
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is there evidence for that? – Don Aug 20 2011 at 19:51

Look around you. Plenty of cultures still practice the Siesta. Go around the world and most cultures near the equator have an afternoon nap (or talk to the grandmothers if they are industrializing). Also look for some documentation of the sleep habits of hunter-gatherers and horticulturalists. I've read that at any given time about 1/3rd of an African hunter gatherer tribe was awake during the night, with different people sleeping and waking at different times. Search segmented sleep too. – Bryan Aug 20 2011 at 23:16

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siesta The populations mentioned here cover about the majority of the world. – Bryan Aug 20 2011 at 23:18

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Biphasic sleep was pretty common pre-industrial revolution. Folks in Europe would wake up in the middle of the night for an hour or so— putt around, have sex, etc.,—then go back to sleep until morning. historycooperative.org/journals/ahr/106.2/… – Lauren Aug 21 2011 at 2:08

Ebice · Answer 3 · 2011-08-21 06:26:25Z UTC

People in their teens and early twenty's seemed to be wired to stay up later. Their hormone levels set their sleep cycles a bit later than older people.

Combined with bi-phasic sleep patterns and the tribe has someone up at all hours of the night, tending the fire and keeping an ear out for any nasties looking for a meal.

ecantrell · Answer 4 · 2011-08-20 19:09:09Z UTC

Probably they do like military would do as it's called night watch but they take turn… Best reference is the movie 'Quest for Fire" as one stay up all nighter to fend off predator who might eat them while they are sleeping and to keep bonfire going…

Doitwhileyoucan · Answer 5 · 2011-08-20 19:33:47Z UTC

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Prob not . Up with the sun and down with the stars. They had to hunt and avoid being the prey too

answered Aug 20 2011 at 19:33

Doitwhileyoucan
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The hacker formerly knownasron · Answer 6 · 2011-08-20 19:07:26Z UTC

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Does it matter? Do whatever you feel healthiest/happiest doing. Just experiment, in this case I don't see why it matters what grok did unless you are seriously interested in reenactment. Try it all see how it works for you personally. Oh and when/if Grok stayed up late i'm sure he didn't have the blue light interfering with his production of melatonin which is why i have a blue light free lamp. https://www.lowbluelights.com/products.asp

answered Aug 20 2011 at 19:07

The hacker formerly knownasron
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that's true no blue light back then… all they had was moonlight and stars if the sky was clear… – ecantrell Aug 20 2011 at 19:09

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I understand your point, it doesn't really matter, but it's always nice to know if you're a real Grok or not. I just like the thought of living exactly like a cavemen in the middle of society. It's fun. – Korion Aug 20 2011 at 20:02

Jan · Answer 7 · 2011-08-21 09:24:34Z UTC

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And how about Lapland, theres is dark the whole winter. Perhaps good idea to supplement with some daylight?

answered Aug 21 2011 at 9:24

Jan
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Didn’t Grok stay up late?

7 Answers