7 THINGS TO AVOID

2. COFFEE AFTER 3 P.M.

"Caffeine can disrupt your sleep up to six hours after consuming it, leading to an hour or more lost in rest, one study found. So if you want to start winding down and going to bed at 9 p.m., drinking coffee after 3 p.m. is a bad idea."

4. DRINK ICY COLD WATER IN WINTER.

3.

ELECTRONICS IN BED.

"Using electronic devices tends to delay the time when you actually go to sleep, reducing sleep duration. Technology affects the brain, stimulating your mind and making it harder to fall asleep."

"According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), cold water weakens the stomach and spleen. Drinking very cold water could impair digestion. The spleen aids in the assimilation of nutrients and their delivery to the rest of the body. An impaired spleen in the Chinese medicine tradition leads to faulty digestion, malabsorption of nutrients, increased risk of infections and illness, chronic bleeding and other health problems."

5.

EATING FOOD BEFORE GOING TO BED.

"When sleeping, our digestive system naturally slows down as our metabolism enters a resting state. Lying down in bed within an hour after eating can lead to symptoms such as indigestion, acid reflux, heartburn, and weight gain."

6. VIGOROUS EXERCISE DURING PERIOD.

"According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, a woman's menses is a time for rest. Your body is using a lot of energy to cleanse and empty the uterus and too much activity will deplete and exhaust the Qi and blood."

7. EXCESSIVE SODIUM. cut out caffeine after 10 a.m my sleep totally changed, better REM sleep, and not as many interruptions. Total game changer.

"High sodium consumption can raise blood pressure, and high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke."

- Mike Dragosavich, Publisher

*Disclaimer: this is one of Vivian's products.