Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Improve Your Sleep

Most of us have experienced insomnia or a sleepless night, the feeling like you need to sleep and fatigue during the day can make your day miserable. However, a growing number of Canadians suffer with sleep problems on a daily basis.

I consider sleep one of the most important pillars of health. Go a few nights without proper sleep and you will feel the negative effects on your body.  A lack of great sleep has a negative impact on your emotional well-being, your energy balance, productivity, and health. Chronic insomnia has been linked to poor adrenal function, hormonal imbalances, weak immunity and even cancer.

By making a few simple lifestyle changes, these tips can help transition into healthy sleep patterns:
  • Maintain a regular sleep schedule during the week and the weekend.
  • Exercise 30 minutes per day.
  • Eat a well balanced diet with lots of vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds.
  • Drink plenty of water and maintain a healthy hydrated body. Avoid drinking liquids after 6pm, only resort to sipping water after 6pm.
  • Make your bedroom completely dark and cool; reduce the room temperature to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Use supplements and herbs like magnesium, chamomile and valerian root to relax your nerves before bedtime.
  • Integrate stress relief strategies into your lifestyle.

Dr Elias Markou, ND

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