10/04/2020
Are you having problems getting enough sleep?
Sleep is an important component in a healthy lifestyle. On average, most adults require at least 6-8 hours of sleep each day. It is important to have a healthy sleep cycle. If we follow the rhythm of nature, as the sun sets, and life slows down our bodies tend to do the same. Our metabolism decreases and we begin unwinding from a long day’s work by relaxing on the sofa. However, some of us ignore the signals that our bodies send us. We push ourselves through the exhaustion to meet deadlines or to veg out on social media.
Have you ever noticed that when you are up late at night, somehow food becomes so appealing? Is it because of all the food commercials that bombard us during the evening? Perhaps it’s because our bodies are exhausted, but we are subconsciously trying to get more energy by eating carbohydrates and other snack foods to keep us going. The problem is that certain types of foods, eaten late at night can prevent us from falling to sleep. Especially foods high in caffeine and sugar.
A few ways to improve our sleep pattern and get better quality sleep is to stop eating at least 3 hours before bedtime. If we are truly following the rhythm of nature, the last meal should be consumed before the sun goes down. Eat your heavier meals during breakfast and lunch. Save your lighter meal for dinner. Eat foods rich in magnesium and tryptophan which gets converted to serotonin, the hormone that helps us sleep better at night. A few examples include, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables whole grains and certain types of seafood. Try listening to a guided meditation, diffuse some essential oil in your bedroom (lavender, chamomile, sweet marjoram, etc.) put a few drops in warm bath water while you are soaking. Turn off all electronics at least 2 hours before bedtime.
