Melatonin — a natural hormone found in fruit, vegetables, spices, tea, coffee, and nuts — has been shown to reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes, in new research out of Spain.
 

The findings, which are based on several experiments conducted on obese rats, might explain “one of the main reasons why these foods are healthy,” said lead researcher Ahmad Agil, a professor at University of Granada in Spain.
 

In obese people, mitochondria — the cellular powerhouses that generate energy needed for many bodily processes — do not work properly and that can lead to diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes.
But the Spanish researchers found young obese rats with diabetes fed the compound had improved mitochondrial function. In addition, the melatonin diminished the levels of free-radicals tied to many diseases.
 

The researchers said the findings may explain why sleeping in total darkness can also reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes.
 

“[Melatonin] is a natural substance present in plants, animals and humans; it works as a hormonal signal released during the night to establish circadian rhythms,” noted Agil, who reported the findings of his team’s work in the Journal of Pineal Research.