Lately in the health and wellness realms the idea of food as medicine is old hat. And now after thurough research a growing concern for the health habits of the current human population is being pointed to as the leading causes is everything from weight gain to chronic illness so basically it all starts with SLEEP.
SO what are the QUICK SAD FACTS:
-We sleep on an average 6.8 hours as opposed to 9 hours a century ago (shittt)
-Sleep is intricately connected to various hormonal and metabolic processes in the body and is important in maintaining metabolic homeostasis (mega shitt)
-Epidemiological data increasingly suggests that short sleep duration or chronic partial sleep deprivation may increase the risk of type II diabetes. (woopsie)
-Studies also revealed that chronic sleep deprivation (sleep less than 8 hours) was associated with increase in BMI. (that’s fat ladies)
-Loss of sleep or poor quality sleep over time has been associated with high blood pressure
-Long term studies on large number of shift workers suggested increase in breast and colon cancers
HOW DO YOU HACK YOUR SLEEP ?
Waking and sleeping at regular times reinforces a consistent sleep rhythm and reminds the brain when to release those all-important sleep and wake hormones… yep this is called you circadian rhythm my dears .
BLOOD SUGAR REGULATION
The second most common cause of insomnia is blood sugar issues …90% of people are unaware of this problem until the detrimental effects begin to show . because we simply cant connect that the jumping your insulin levels all over the shop during the day seriously effects your hormones (INSULIN IS A HORMONE MY FRIENDS!!!)
This is happening if You’re eat every 2-3 hours all day (snacking and grazing have been debunked as that 90’s myth of increasing metabolism .. instead its 3 meals a day which regulate sugar levels in turn making your metabolism most efficient . ” this constant eating results your body expecting to get fed every 2-3 hours, right, sooo good luck going to bed at the end of the day and expecting to sleep through the night, youre going to wake up when your blood sugar drops enough for you body to release adrenaline and wake you up (probs HANGRY as F*ck)
TIPS TO COUNTERACT THIS:
1. eat 3-4 square meals a day with no snacking .. like a human
2.Eat whole foods – avoid processed foods. - your body understands these and utilizes them properly .. Gummy worms and Diet Coke … are basically completely alien to your insides
3. Eat Protein in the morning and carbs at night .. counter intuitive to what we previously thought .. but carbs in the evening of the SAFE KIND like root vegetables actually aid in the release of serotonin which switches on the signals to sleep (serotonin is the “happy” chemical yes, which also explains why depressed people also suffer from insomnia)
*NOTE a sweet potato , yam or white potato are the perfect carbs to keep blood sugar levels smooth sailing through the whole slumber session (a great book detailing this is Potato’s Not Prozac , a worthy read for any food addict or diabetic )
Research has demonstrated that nighttime light exposure suppresses the production of melatonin, the major hormone secreted by the pineal gland that controls sleep and wake cycles, so keep your room dark as possible , funnily enough a study also showed that even if a source of light was pointed at a sleeping persons foot (not in eyesight) the body start to cycle into the waking faze … WOW ! Nowadays we have so much light emitting form tech things like phones and computers , its worth downloading the FREE program – f.lux which switches you laptop screen to AMBER lights , enabling optimal circadian rhythm .. And is also less geeky then wearing amber glasses ..
SUPPLEMENTS THAT HELP:
L-Theanine is a non-protein amino acid found naturally in green tea (Camellia sinensis). It is clinically proven to reduce stress, balance mood and improve the quality of sleep. It’s mechanism of action is through direct effect on GABA receptors. Recommended dose approximately 100mg before bed. – See more at: http://drhedberg.com/2012/02/06/how-to-cure-insomnia/#sthash.90M7DyMC.dpuf
brain’s relationship with the adrenal glands. After only ten days of high doses of PS, research has shown that excessive cortisol levels can be decreased in healthy men. PS has also been shown to enhance brain function and memory, decrease anxiety and depression, improve mood, and enhance metabolism. It is also an antioxidant. It is very difficult for the body to make PS as it requires many nutrients for production. Supplementation is vital for optimizing adrenal function so cortisol cannot have its negative effects on the body and the thyroid.
Magnesium aids in calming the nerves and relaxing the muscles, which in turn can help individuals to fall asleep. Similarly, a deficiency of the mineral is sometimes responsible for the nervousness that prevents sleep. Magnesium deficiency hampers the ability of the body’s motor nerves, which carry electrical impulses from the brain to the muscles to send the correct messages
melatonin, in low doses for short periods – no more than a week or two at a time – can help regulate sleep rhythms. Generally, 1/2mg -2 mg about an hour and a half before bed will do the trick. Keep in mind however, for some people, over-use of melatonin can actually disrupt sleep, so use it sparingly and follow the manufacturer’s dosing instructions.
herbs like lemon balm, passion flower, chamomile, magnolia and valerian root ALL aid in relaxation and have proven to be as effective as some prescriptive sleeping medications
GET THE FULL LOWDOWN ON THE LINK BELOW :
1. if you feel a “tired but wired” sensation at night it means that the your cortisol (stress hormone) cycle is out of whack .. it should be high in the morning .. to get us out of bed .. and slowly lower till the evening to allow for melotonin to build inducing sleep
2. if your excuse for lack of sleep is needing to pee … its not ok .. waking up to pee is actually rather abnormal because our body produces hormones that stop us need to relive our selves at night
3.Better-reported sleep quality (longer duration and better quality sleep) was associated with greater fat loss during a calorie-restriction diet program in adults.