DECEMBER 2015

HEALTH TALK BLOG

Here come the Holidays!! Unfortunately with the holidays come shopping, cooking, parties, family visits! Don’t get me wrong all the best of times; but all of this causes many of us to not get enough sleep!  So my topic this month is SLEEP DEPRIVATION!!

Sleep deprivation can be caused by many things such as stress, medications, caffeine, auto-immune illnesses, even genetics. I personally began a struggle with sleep issues about 3 years ago when I was diagnosed with a disease of the small blood vessels around my brain and heart caused by systemic lupus.  It is a battle and I know of what I speak.

Prolonged sleep deprivation can contribute to diabetes, weight gain, depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, lower fitness levels and over all lethargy. However there are things we can do to help ourselves.

Start by turning off your electronics at bedtime. No phone, no computer, no TV. Create a quiet, dark cool space to sleep. I do use my Kindle with the screen dark and tuned to a meditation station “Deva Primal and Miten”; these soothing voices lull me to sleep.

Keep the room temperature cool and wear pajamas that breathe or dare I say go “au naturel “; anything that makes you feel absolutely at rest.  Prepare your body by tightening and releasing muscles while deep breathing as you would in preparation for meditation. Remember worrying makes no situation better; and very little can be done overnight; so your job is to REST and SLEEP.

Don’t be afraid to seek help from your Doctor. I did and we worked out a program where I do take prescription “Lunesta”; but not every night. We also incorporated the natural remedy Melatonin so I am not dependent on the prescription, but save it for nights when sleep is absolutely called for. This is working very well for me.

Some other natural products to help with sleep can include:

Lavender: Drinking a cup of Lavender Tea before bedtime can relax you so well; also spray your linens with Lavender scent or use a diffuser to keep that calming mode all night long

Melatonin: This hormone is produced in the pineal gland. As we age our pineal gland shrinks thus releasing less melatonin; sometimes resulting in insomnia. Melatonin regulates our body clocks so it is also very beneficial to international travelers for combating jet lag! Plant based melatonin or melatonin taken form Argentinian cattle is both safe and effective.

We carry a wide variety of sleeps aids such as “Power to Sleep” by Irwin Naturals; “Sleep Well” by Liquid Health as well as Passionflower and Valerian. Come in and let our nutritional team work out a plan for you!

MERRY CHRISTMAS from the Staff at Complete Health Store!