Do you think more sleep would make a difference? Do you remember when you could get by on a few hours of sleep and not feel it much? If you are like me that was a long time ago.
For many, sleep is difficult to come by. Uninterrupted sleep is nearly impossible. With our hectic schedules, poor dietary habits, and no time for exercise, sleep is one of the most common issues that we hear from our patients.
Welcome to the Regel home. We have three children at our house. Our youngest is 5 and we are finally getting consistent sleep more often than not. I am often times blind to my issues when I don’t get enough sleep, but there is no way you can be blind to the lack of sleep in our children. We have “Meany”, “Whiney” and “Whiney Jr.” in our house. One of our children “Meany”, is able to develop a killer attitude towards the rest of the family. “Whiney” and “Whiney Jr.” have a knack for finding a way to complain and gripe at every little thing. Summer, my wife, can’t stand the whines and I about loose it when I see someone deliberately being mean. Oh yea, before I forget, if our children are sleep deprived that usually means mom and dad are sleep deprived. This situation of Meany, Whiney, and Whiney Jr. and “Mr. and Mrs. Have-No-Patience” lead to a not so lovely evening.
I have observed the following in our children and it may translate to you as it does to Summer and I.
Enough sleep equals better behavior and improved work at school (more focus)
Enough sleep equals better dietary habits (choose protein foods over carbohydrate foods)
Enough sleep equals more exercise (higher activity or less computer/TV time)
As I observe these three areas of my children’s lives, I can see a need for more sleep in my life. I definitely could use more focus, motivation to exercise, and reduced carbohydrate cravings.
So how much sleep is enough? Many people I talk with say if they get 5 hours they are fine and they don’t see any benefit in getting more. Studies have shown that 7 to 8 hours is a minimum. By the way, that 7 to 8 hours is uninterrupted sleep.
Here is a starting point for those that want better sleep.
Better sleep with proper nutrients.
My first choice for patients that are having trouble sleeping is Magnesium Chelate. This is easy to recommend because most of us are deficient. How easy would it be to just replace what you are deficient and reap the benefits. Here is a little info on our Magnesium Chelate.
This Magnesium is attached to an amino acid. Attaching the Magnesium to an amino acid helps the body absorb the magnesium through the gastrointestinal tract. Once inside the body the magnesium has the capability to perform several functions that can improve sleep.
Muscle Relaxation – we all hold stress in the shoulders and neck area and relaxation of these muscles helps your whole body relax. This is also the reason that this form of Magnesium can help with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). We have several testimonials on how this simple mineral has helped our patients.
Irregular heart beat – The “heart flutters” that many patients feel when they lay down can affect sleep and increase stress. Magnesium can help regulate the heart flutters.
Mood Stabilization – studies show that anxiety can be minimized with proper Magnesium balance.
The next item on my recommendation for improving sleep is Melatonin 3mg Long Acting. Some patients may not be able to produce enough and can be deficient in Melatonin. Melatonin generally drops as we age. Since this hormone regulates the day and night cycle it is important to maintain an adequate level in the body. Replacing this hormone is safe and with the proper amount can help patients with insomnia.
L-Theanine is an amino acid that is believed to be the component in green tea responsible for its relaxation effects. We all hold tension and stress a little too much and adding the calming effect of L-Theanine can help us relax to the point of sleep. L-Theanine can also improve the quality of sleep itself. Many people report that L-Theanine makes falling asleep easier and faster. It also extends the duration of deep sleep. This is essential for those who typically wake up several times during the night. L-Theanine can restore the wake cycle which makes the waking process easier. No more grogginess! Wouldn’t it be nice to feel rested every morning. You can then begin the new day focused and calm, with the previous day’s stress having been reset to zero.
We are here to listen and recommend the appropriate sleep aid for you. So stop taking those prescription sleeping pills and sleep better with what your body needs. We carry each one of these non-prescription items in our pharmacy and we can send these to your home.
Comentarios