Sleep like a dog
Far too many people suffer from insomnia and anxiety, causing them to toss and turn and night and not get into full REM sleep. They wake up exhausted. As we age, getting restful and restorative sleep becomes an almost impossible problem. Without deep, restful sleep, the body cannot truly recover and heal from the stress of daily life.
As a result, tranquilizers and sleeping pills have become some of the most over-prescribed medications on the market. Americans consume over a million and a half pounds of dangerous tranquilizers annually, mostly for psychological, stress-related reasons, not for physical problems. The problem is that they do not give the body the deep restorative sleep that rejuvenates the mind and body.
Far from being simple medications to relieve sleeping problems, these drugs can have adverse affects on physical and mental health, and daily living. Over use or misuse can cause dizziness, memory loss, decreased mental function, confusion, loss of coordination, each of which can contribute to degenerative health or personal injury.
When was the last time you had a really good night sleep?
As an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs, many people take Melatonin to aid with sleep. Melatonin is a hormone made by the pineal gland which helps to control your sleep and wake cycles.
A Melatonin deficiency can interfere with proper sleep. If you suspect that you have a Melatonin deficiency you should take a hard look at any medications you are taking. There are several common ones that could be lowering your Melatonin levels and interfering with your sleep.
Anti-inflammatory compounds like aspirin and ibuprofen block Melatonin production. Beta blockers and calcium channel blockers used to treat high blood pressure also inhibit the formation of Melatonin. And ironically, sleep aids and drugs that treat anxiety problems also stop Melatonin formation.
Many foods contain high amounts of Melatonin; bananas, barley, ginger, rice, and corn. Eating these foods regularly will lift your Melatonin levels.
Although there are numerous benefits to taking Melatonin, it is not sufficient to solve the serious problem of chronic sleep deprivation. It does not relieve stress from our daily life or contribute to the overall well being of the mind and body.
Stress & Cortisol
Stress is a natural response to internal and external conditions which elevates alertness and increases our immune system response. A little stress is good, but prolonged stress leads to fatigue, lack of sleep, irritability and long-term health issues.
Cortisol is the body’s stress hormone which is secreted by the adrenal glands in high levels in response to stress. Small doses of cortisol are good – providing an energy burst and heightened awareness in response to our natural fight or flight response.
Prolonged, heightened levels of cortisol in our bloodstream have very negative effects – impairing mental performance, suppressing thyroid function, upsetting blood sugar balance, raising blood pressure, increases abdominal fat which causes a plethora of other issues, and lowering immunity and inflammatory response. After a stressful event, our body needs to relax and recover, allowing cortisol levels to drop and return to a normal state.
Good Night is for deep, restorative sleep!
Including a tour de force of all the sleep-inducing elements known to natural medicine (including Melatonin of course), Good Night assists you in relaxing and falling asleep at bedtime, while at the same time enhancing the deep, restorative REM sleep in the early morning hours.
Serving Size: 3 Capsules
Servings per Container: 30
Suggested Usage: As a dietary supplement, take 3 capsules 30-60 minutes before bed with 8oz water. May reduce to 1 or 2 capsules if satisfied with results, or as advised by your healthcare practitioner.
Further Tips & Suggestions:
- Exercise is the body’s original stress reducer! Go for a walk, or a run, ride your bike, do yoga, any activity that gets the blood pumping for a minimum of 30 minutes.
- Meditation is another great stress reliever. I like to take off my shoes and walk or stand in the grass, breathing deeply and just being still for awhile. Whatever works for you, take time each day and do it.
- Avoid the snooze button and sleeping late. These habits could be contributing to your insomnia problem.
- Refrain from eating for at least two hours before you go to bed.
- Avoid stimulating drinks with caffeine after 5 o’clock. They can prolong the time it takes to go to sleep. Alcohol is also disruptive to sleep patterns, as are less obvious sources of caffeine like chocolate, chocolate-flavored foods, soft drinks and salt, which can act as a mild stimulant to the adrenal glands.
- Check to see if your inability to sleep coincides with the use of a new medication. One of the biggest detriments to sleep is the widespread use of medications, both over-the-counter and prescription. Even seemingly harmless over-the-counter sinus and nasal congestion medications can be strong nervous system stimulants that can interfere with sleep.
- Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar can also be responsible for insomnia. Your brain uses glucose as its main source of energy. If glucose (blood sugar) levels fall below normal while you’re sleeping, your adrenal glands automatically release hormones that stimulate glucose production. This will wake you up in the middle of the night. If you fall asleep easily, but waken in the middle of the night and have difficulty returning to sleep, it could be an indication of falling blood sugar levels. Consuming a small amount of unsweetened juice or a teaspoon of peanut butter when you wake up at night will often stabilize the blood sugar enough to allow you to return to sleep.
If anyone you know has serious insomnia condition, contact our Customer Support team to schedule a private consultation.
God be with you at all times.
