The Best Insomnia Remedies
By: Rudy S Silva, Nutritionist
Do you suffer from lack of sleep at night that makes you feel tired the next day? Does this affect your work day and your livelihood? Do you wish you could have a full nights rest and feel refreshed upon awakening? Are you one of the millions of Americans who take prescription drugs to deal with your bouts of sleeplessness? If you answered yes to even one of these questions, then you have the classic symptoms of what I like to call “Lack of Sleep Syndrome.� Instead of spending your precious time being a zombie during the day, you should consider the many natural remedies and alternatives that are readily available to ease your insomnia. Getting the proper amount of sleep is very important in order to function optimally throughout your day, but that is not always possible with the stressful lifestyles that most of us have. This condition, called insomnia, affects our sleep patterns and our quality of sleep.
Some people with insomnia may be able to fall asleep quickly, but wake in the middle of the night and have a hard time getting back to sleep. Others just find it difficult to get to sleep. Unfortunately, insomnia is a condition that can damage your health in ways that you may not even know. Without the 6+ to 8+ hours sleep that you need, you become more likely to suffer from many different ailments, and it also contributes to many of the diseases we see today. The amount of actual sleep needed is different for everyone. One thing that is evident is that you do not always have to take drugs in order to alleviate your insomnia. For instance, there are ways to take control of your insomnia by learning how to release your stress and anxieties yourself. Also, eating foods, which help you sleep, using herbs, herbal teas and other remedies can help you get the quality sleep that you so desire. And did you know that you can
also use supplements and exercise to help you on your quest for deep sleep? Melatonin is well-known as the sleep hormone and is made by our pineal gland. It is commonly used in supplement form to help regulate sleep, adjust sleep patterns due to jet lag and travel, and may assist with insomnia in the elderly, as well as enhance sleep in healthy persons. As the day gets darker, your pineal gland starts to release melatonin. Too much light at night, stress, and a lack of sleep can all affect this release of sleep hormone. If you constantly wake up at night and cannot get to sleep again or wake up too early, try taking 2-4 mg of melatonin before you go to bed. You can also help your body produce melatonin naturally by eating foods or taking supplements that lead to its production. This is a great way to stimulate your body into creating the needed substances to create a good night’s sleep. Foods like salmon, tuna or halibut, chia seeds, and fortified cereals are high in the vitamin B6
(pyridoxine) which assists the body in making the melatonin hormone. Eating better quality foods, taking supplements, lowering your stress levels, and exercise can all help reduce the insomnia in your life.
The Best Insomnia Remedies
By: Rudy S Silva, Nutritionist