Sleep Secrets

It appears that millions of people have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. The sleep secret needs a microscope to delve into it. My son had that same trouble so once again we began hunting for facts to help. Many elderly friends tell of waking in the middle of the night and being unable to go back to sleep. I love working in the quiet peace if the night but don’t feel exhausted by it. So many are exhausted and groggy in the morning. That can be dangerous is driving machinery, etc.

Solving Sleep Needs

There is popular natural sleep stuff available like melatonin or valerian. Apparently melatonin is not effective for everyone with some internet reports of constant use resulting in side effects of the following:-

• Daytime drowsiness
• Headaches
• Anxiety
• Throbbing eyes
• Dizziness

The reports of side effects with valerian include:-

• Hangover feelings
• Fuzzy thinking
• Potential liver toxicity

So clearly taking these over a long period is unwise. I use melatonin for times of excessive plane travel between many time zones and then stop.

Finding the Hidden Cause

Once again each one then will be looking for the underlying hidden cause of the sleep issue. With my son, he found that it was his own body “excitement juice” that was not turned off. He called it his “out of whack excitement juices”. The human system produces chemicals that excite the nerves and brain. It can also produce chemicals to calm your nerves too.

Not getting enough sleep for your needs can have a big impact on your health including:-

• Blood sugar imbalance
• Weight gain
• Mood swings
• Circulation and heart risks
• Accidents
• Memory confusions and loss

Aching Muscles That Keep You Awake

A lot of people take calcium supplements in an attempt to help maintain strong and healthy bones. Taking your calcium supplements at night because your body loses calcium at night is actually a contributor to those aching muscles that keep you awake in bed. Calcium can create a feeling of anxiety in you causing muscle contractions. Restless leg syndrome and leg cramps are two other issues that may arise when taking calcium at night. The unfortunate thing though is that the reason this is happening is because the calcium is not being properly dissolved in the body.

There is a solution. Magnesium is recognised as a natural muscle relaxant and sedative, and can reverse restless leg syndrome and cramping in both your legs and feet. Forever Calcium is synergistically combined with both magnesium and vitamin D, two essential ingredients to maximise calcium absorption. The combination of calcium, vitamin D and magnesium may not only help maintain strong, healthy bones but may help with a good night’s sleep. A deficiency in these oils can lead to muscles weakness, tingling arms and legs and behavioural changes among other things. Not all fatty acids give the same benefits, that’s why it’s important to make sure you find a good quality supplement to assist increase your Omega-3 intake.

It may be that your aches and pains are aggravated by mycoplasma-bacterial infections. Probiotics have been known to help with the removing of the mycoplasma bacteria which is considered to cause bouts of aching muscles and joints. They are reported as being beneficial to take as a way of improving intestinal microbial balance, inhibiting pathogens and toxin producing bacteria like mycoplasma. Probiotic has been developed as a product to help promote a healthy digestive system, while enhancing both nutrient absorption and the body’s immune function. The specific formula of highly beneficial strains of microbes has a unique 3-layer coating which enables it to pass through the stomach to the gut where it is absorbed. There are many internet references on the benefits of probiotics including a reference to a 2011 study that showed lower levels of stress and anxiety in test subjects taking probiotics.

Racing Mind

Until the 1950s, most people thought of sleep as a passive, dormant part of their daily lives. Since that time many studies have shown that our brains are actually very active during sleep.

I have a friend who was telling me that he used to go to bed at night ready to sleep, but then laid there staring at the ceiling for hours. When I asked him what he did he said he went over the details of everything that happened that day, or thought about everything he had to do the next. Anxiety and stress, when coupled with a racing mind, are a definite sleep-stopper.

Many studies have been undertaken in this field identifying that the amino acid L-theanine may be a solution for a racing mind. Research has shown that L-theanine has a calming effect, reducing stress and anxiety caused by everyday life. It has also been reported in studies that L-theanine helps increase “alpha-wave” activity in your brain. Alpha waves correspond to the same state of calm relaxation that you feel with meditation and yoga. Green tea is felt to have the highest concentration of L-theanine in the natural world. My friend converted to drinking green tea and after a while reported to me that he had found he was not laying there awake for as long.

I myself use a wonderful product called Reishi with Green Tea sachets. The Reishi herb is a red mushroom that is traditionally referred as the “Heavenly Herb” or the “Blessed Herb” or the “Herb of Immortality”. Those are strong words taken from old Asian records to denote the power of the Reishi herb to radically increase the dynamic power of the immune system and lower blood pressure. Researchers have also found that it boosts the liver function and oxygenises the arteries throughout the entire body making it a good overall health support tool. Coupled with green tea the reishi is then also a good natural sleep aid. I take my daily Reishi drink of “immortality” balance in the following yummy ways:-

–          Reishi with Coffee sachets

–          Reishi with Chocolate and Ginseng sachets

–          Reishi with Green Tea sachets

Lack of Seratonin

Signs of lack of serotonin:-

• Craving sweet foods
• Craving salty foods
• Worry and anxiety
• Winter blues
• Low self esteem
• Sleep problems

Cravings are one of the signals of serotonin deficiency and while you might satisfy those cravings with something sweet or salty it’s only a short-term fix. That does nothing to truly help increase the serotonin levels in your body and in fact only succeed in putting more toxins in – another contributor to your lack of sleep. Serotonin and Melatonin are linked intrinsically in your quest for a good night’s sleep – if your serotonin levels are too low during the day, your melatonin levels will be too low at night. As we go through the day our bodies convert serotonin into melatonin, which is then stored in your pineal gland. When the sun goes down, your body then signals your pineal gland to release the melatonin, which then helps you to fall asleep.

Increase Serotonin with Melatonin

Many people take a melatonin supplement for helping with sleep problems as I mentioned before. An increase in melatonin is definitely what is needed to help with sleeping issues but there is a natural way of increasing melatonin through increasing your own serotonin levels. 5-hydroxytryptophan, better known as 5HTP is a natural amino acid and is a natural chemical precursor and metabolic intermediate in the process to create serotonin in your body. Being able to take a supplement of 5HTP may aid in the direct production of more serotonin with the subsequent increase in melatonin.

B Vitamin Power

B Vitamins, especially B3 and B6 are involved in many bodily functions like making serotonin. Vitamin B6 is essential for the creation of serotonin and is a good natural stress-buster.

We can take a lesson here from our small honey producing friends, the bees. Bee products like Forever Bee Propolis, Forever Bee Pollen, and  Royal Jelly are packed full of amino acids, like 5HTP, and the B-complex vitamins. While they may also provide you with a buzz of natural energy, they all have very good antibiotic properties and may assist in combating stress – one of the main reasons many people lie awake at night. The combination of the amino acids and the B-complex vitamins not only aids with nutrition but may help with creating a comfortable feeling within yourself and prepare you for a good night’s sleep. I take Forever Bee products regularly as one of the components of my healthy life regimen and don’t suffer from any sleep deprivation issues.

Selenium is a trace mineral naturally occurring in a  number of foods and aids antioxidant proteins so they can function properly in your body. Getting enough selenium may help to prevent cell damage that may contribute to chronic diseases and issues like sleep deprivation. Selenium also plays a major role in supporting your immune system and thyroid function. Using a multivitamin containing selenium,  could be an important aid for digestion, repairing body tissue and nervous system function.

GABA Deficiencies

GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid) is your body’s most abundant “inhibitory” neurotransmitter, a major player in your body’s “calming” system. Those who have anxiety and sleep problems, feeling stressed, stiff, tense or just plain exhausted may simply be suffering from a GABA deficiency. It is a natural balancer, relaxing and reducing overstimulation in the body.

If the brain is not in balance with the blood circulation it appears that the brain will not settle down and rest because of the deficiency of GABA. This could possibly be alleviated with the taking of Omega-3 and Omega-9 fatty acids which by improving blood circulation it is presumed the GABA deficiency will be addressed. Omega-3’s assistance to the circulatory system will also be beneficial for addressing feelings of stiffness or tenseness with improved blood flow being able to ease and relax muscles.

Oats and Nerves

Jittery nerves have traditionally been calmed with a bowl of oats before bedtime. Oats have been used for medicinal purposes since the Middle Ages and only recently in a search on the internet-library I found over 500,000 entries for oats and nerves. I was quite amazed at the information I found about this humble plant.  Amongst many other qualities, many sources indicated that oats are an agent to:

• help deal with depression
• helps provide relief or ease muscular spasms, cramps or convulsions
• externally soften and soothe the skin
• helps calm or soothe the nerves – acting on the nervous system to restore the nerves to their natural state
• provide essential nourishment

Aloe Vera – “The Miracle Plant”

Pristine Aloe Vera can support the rebalancing of high blood pressure and the immune system, both important aspects in reducing stress levels. There are over 200 compounds in aloe vera juice, including those essentials we have already read about – amino acids, B-complex vitamins, calcium, and magnesium. More than that though, it also contains natural salicylic acids and sterols, an active ingredient for the soothing of muscles and joints. A daily drink of Aloe Vera Gel juice could go a long way towards helping with a good night’s sleep.

Value of Good Sleep

You might spend a lot of money searching for a way to find better sleep – like sleep remedies or even more involved and technical sleep treatments – it can run into the hundreds and even thousands very quickly, and with no guarantees of success. However, we can be assured of finding better sleep if we simply focus on the underlying reason for our disruptive sleep patterns. Improving our overall health through good nutrition and supplementation is a sure way you can help yourself get a good night sleep and is the real sleep secret.

For more information about these exceptional Aloe Vera products Click Here

For more information about the Reishi Coffee I drink when outside the USA email me at d@goodhealthwithd.com and I will send through the information.

Click to buy Green Tea with Reishi sachets (usa only)

Informations on this website are for educational purposes only. They are only my opinion based on my internet studies. They are not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any disease or mental condition. Consult your licenses health care professional on all health concerns.