HEALTHY MIND

The Melatonin

Sleep Aid Body-Mind Connection & Risks to Consider

By Juliane Kristine Morris

Busy minds and busy schedules are keeping more people up later at night and rising earlier in the morning. Studies show that one in three adults are not getting enough sleep.

Some people use an over-thecounter aid called melatonin, sometimes called the “sleep hormone”. Why the hype with melatonin and is there a healthy mental outcome for those who use melatonin? What about melatonin overdose? Too much melatonin can have the opposite effect of its intended purpose. It can make it harder to sleep because your normal circadian rhythms will be disrupted. An overdose can also leave you feeling groggy and sleepy during the day and give you nightmares or extremely vivid dreams at night.

Melatonin is chemical that is produced naturally in the human body, helping to regulate the sleep cycle through the circadian rhythm that controls our body’s sleep-wake function. The brain usually releases melatonin in the mid-to-late evening and then throughout the night until morning, causing a natural waking up, peaking during the night and lowest during the day.

Factors like stress, excitement, non-typical work shifts, caffeine, blue screen light in the evening, alcohol, insomnia, medications, hormones, aging and of course jet lag, can affect natural melatonin production and release. Some people find taking a melatonin supplement 20 minutes to an hour before bedtime can help with sleep.

Melatonin is typically found in strengths from 1-10mg. A higher dose of melatonin does not mean better sleep. Many people may benefit from .3mg to 1mg, where 3mg or 5mg could be too much. Start small –even .3mg for a few nights 20-60 minutes before bedtime and see how it works for you.

Having too much melatonin can reduce the body’s natural production of melatonin, making the body dependent to receive melatonin from supplements rather than making melatonin naturally. Melatonin should not be a habitual part of a nightly routine, but is intended to help get sleep back on track, with use for one to four weeks at a time.

Some people experience side effects from melatonin, including headache, dizziness, nausea and drowsiness. Other side effects from improper dosing or overuse can include diminished alertness upon waking, irritability, confusion and anxiety, not to mention contraindications with some prescription medications, which should be discussed with your physician.

Taking melatonin non-routinely can help a person get their sleep back on track, but be aware of the proper ways to use this interesting sleep aid supplement, and its benefits and risks.

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PurseQUALITIES TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A

By Leann Zotis

THERE WAS A TIME IN SOCIETY WHEN A WOMAN'S PURSE MATCHED HER SHOES WHILE COORDINATING WELL WITH HER OUTFIT. THIS MAY STILL BE THE CASE TO SOME WOMEN. FOR MANY OTHERS, THE RIGORS OF LIFE DEMAND A STURDY, FUNCTIONAL PURSE THAT CAN BE GRABBED AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE AND WILL PROVE SERVICEABLE FOR EVERY OCCASION.

WITH THE PRICES OF GOOD QUALITY HANDBAGS REACHING THE STRATOSPHERE, IT PAYS TO MAKE A GOOD CHOICE THE FIRST TIME AROUND. NO ONE WANTS A COSTLY HANDBAG MISTAKE LANGUISHING IN THEIR CLOSET FOR THE NEXT DECADE. BEFORE MAKING ANOTHER PURCHASE, CONSIDER A FEW KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PERFECT PURSE.

SIZE DOES MATTER

Bigger is not necessarily better. Just because you can carry the contents of your make-up drawer along with your unpaid bills, register receipts from past purchases, your gym shoes and a small photo album of your last vacation in your purse doesn't mean you should. Determine upfront what image you want to project with your appearance and size your bag accordingly. As far as all that other stuff goes, well, that's why they make tote bags.

Dare to be Yourself

Express Yourself Not to be confused with size, capacity relates more to the internal arrangement of the contents. Dividers, zippered sections, snaps for your keys and pockets for your cell phone can all add up to a more organized handbag. You probably don't want a bare bones duffel bag style if you want to find your stuff in a timely manner.

MATCH YOUR PURSE TO YOUR PERSONALITY

Dividers & Pockets

Sure, there's a place for the standard neutrals of black, brown, white or beige in a basic wardrobe. But what if your tastes are a little more adventurous? Express your inner psychedelic flower child with hot pink, chartreuse, lavender, puce or embroidery if that's where your heart lies. Dare to be yourself.

FIND YOUR PREFERRED PRICE POINT AND STICK TO IT

There is almost no end to the level of expense you can take on with a high quality purse. If you know that going in, you can steer yourself away from the designer originals that break your bank. There are great choices to be found at comfortable prices. TAKE A LONG TERM VIEW OF YOUR PURCHASE

If you don't want to find yourself trolling around the department and specialty stores for another purse six months from now, make sure your choice today is one you want to live with through the changing seasons and the variations of clothing styles. Style and fashion do not always go hand in hand. The sooner you decide what's right for you, your lifestyle and your checkbook, the sooner you can settle into the style that works for you today. And with any luck, for several seasons into the future.

Timeless Designer