How to sleep better
According to Google Trends, the number of times “insomnia” was searched by Americans the past few months hit a record high.
According to Google Trends, the number of times “insomnia” was searched by Americans in the last year hit a record high.1 It’s not outrageously surprising given how much stress and anxiety we are experiencing.
However, to say sleep is one of the most important pillars of health would be an understatement.
Trust me, I know it is SO tempting to stay up when it is quiet and you feel like you finally have a moment to yourself. On the nights I decide to stay up, I almost always regret it the next day.
Sleep is not just a passive process - it is an active process during which our brain and body go through different stages to:
Maintain healthy body weight - lack of sleep is associated with weight gain and food cravings.
Regulate hormones - the majority of our testosterone is produced at night. Testosterone is essential for fertility, muscle mass, a healthy sex drive, optimal cognitive function, heart health.
70% of growth hormone is released during sleep. Growth hormone is our anti-aging hormone. It helps us repair, burn fat for fuel, improve bone density and collagen maintenance. Yes - sleep is anti-ageing.
Boost cognitive function - REM sleep helps to organize and consolidate our memory and improve our focus. During deep sleep, our brain detoxifies. If it doesn't, toxins can accumulate in the brain, this has been associated with dementia.
Detoxification - during sleep, our body and brain flush toxins from our tissues. (and this is why drinking lots of water, moving your body, and opening your bowels after you wake up is so important).
Lower inflammation - Our sleep hormone, melatonin, is one of the most powerful antioxidants in the body and when we optimize sleep we are also lowering our inflammation.
I was a true insomniac due to a variety of different medical reasons.
I had so much trouble falling asleep at night. This terrible pattern led to painful migraines, a heavy reliance on all kinds of caffeine I could get my hands on throughout the day, and a dependence on wine for at least a couple of hours of sleep per night.
It was a long time coming, but with lifestyle changes and addressing root causes were (mercury toxicity being a big one), I finally moved towards nipping the problem in the bud.
In this post, I will give you my insight on sleep supplements. I will also sharing my top 8 sleep hygiene tips hoping that they’ll be helpful to those experiencing similar sleep issues.
1. Stick to a regular sleep schedule.
Most people can agree that quarantine and shutdown have severely disrupted our regular routines. Although we’re not driving to work like we used to, going to the gym at our regular workout time, or even changing out of our pajamas, it’s important to establish some sort of everyday routine. This is because our circadian rhythm (an internal clock run by your brain that repeats every 24-hours) thrives on regularity. So, when we’re going to bed past 2:00 am, our bodies kind of freak out and become seriously confused. Sticking to the same bedtime from before the shutdown can help improve sleep quality and boost deep sleep.