Archive for the ‘Sleep and Relaxation’ category

Lack of Sleep Increases Early Mortality Rates

May 28, 2010

Sleep Duration is Important to Your Longevity!

We are all trying to move ahead in today’s fast paced world, looking for more work hours, and taking on second jobs just to keep up. Society pressures us into stressful lifestyles that don’t leave a lot of time for us to rest. Sleep is something most of us don’t really think about. We just go to bed and sleep as much as we can for the next day. This can actually be harming our bodies. Sleep is the body’s natural restoration period, the time when it rejuvenates and repairs itself. Lack of sleep (Sleep deprivation) diminishes our cellular energy by not allowing any downtime for the body to recuperate.

According to recent scientific research, “People who get less than six hours sleep per night have an increased risk of dying prematurely.” The findings of the study were published in the Sleep Journal.

Lack of sleep has been shown to affect the body’s immune function, hormone secretion, and physical and mental stamina. Scientists have performed sleep studies and determined that losing sleep can also cause weight gain. Decreased sleep creates a spike in ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates appetite, and a reduction in leptin, which signals satiety. This makes your body think it is hungry when it actually just needs more sleep.

The effects of losing sleep on our bodily systems leads to increased stress. This added stress over time causes our body’s to work harder and our cells to burn out faster, resulting in earlier mortality. At the same time, stress can affect our health and our sleep in diverse ways. It is important to create a relaxation time before going to bed so your body and mind can wind down. Laying down fully relaxed will help you fall asleep faster as well as relieve your mind of extra worry that may cause you to have bad dreams or abnormal sleep cycles.

Although Lack of Sleep is a semi-voluntary action by most people, others suffer from certain sleeping disorders that make it nearly impossible for them to get the recommended amount of sleep they need. Sleeping disorders such as Insomnia cause difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep through the night. Sleep apnea causes  disturbed sleep where your mind thinks it’s asleep and your body generates stress signals and difficulty breathing which wakes you up all night long. Narcolepsy can cause excessive sleep at random intervals. This does not allow your body to fully rest as it is confused with sleep cycles and wake cycles.

There are many natural products that can help with the effects sleep disorders. Valerian root can help your body relax and become more susceptible to sleep. Melatonin can help your mind become calm and stop racing thoughts that can cause sleep terrors and unwanted sleep stress. So if you have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep you may want to try a natural sleep aid before getting on prescription sleep medicines that can have adverse side effects.

American Nutrition offers High Quality Natural Sleep Aids to Support Healthy Sleep Duration.

10% off Your Purchase of Any Natural Sleep Aid or Herbal Sleep Supplement through 06/30/2010
Enter Coupon Code: SLEEP10
upon checkout and click recalculate to apply.

Click Here to Shop American Nutrition’s Natural Sleep Aid Section

L-Theanine Promotes Relaxation and Helps Reduce Stress Naturally

February 24, 2010

L-Theanine is a unique amino acid found in the tea plant.

L-Theanine is a non-protein amino acid which takes up 50% of the total free Amino Acids in the green tea plant. L-Theanine is famous for its ability to increase Alpha Waves (associated with a feeling of calm and mental alertness).

Theanine is related to glutamine, and can cross the blood-brain barrier. Because it can enter the brain, theanine has psychoactive properties. Theanine has been shown to reduce mental and physical stress, may produce feelings of relaxation and improves cognition, and mood.

L-Theanine may help relieve stress by inducing a relaxing effect without drowsiness. L-theanine as been shown to promote the generation of alpha-brain waves, an index of relaxation. It may also boost natural resistance to microbial infections and perhaps even tumors. Researchers suggest further isolating and refining L-theanine from tea to use it as a drug to boost the infection defense of the body.

Theanine is speculated to produce these effects by increasing the level of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production. Theanine increases brain serotonin, dopamine, GABA levels and has micromolar affinities for AMPA, Kainate and NMDA receptors.

L-Theanine may also help the body’s immune response to infection by boosting the disease-fighting capacity of gamma delta T cells.

Click here to Learn More about L-Theanine! 

Deal of the Week: TC Sleep Medic – Natural Sleep Aid 60 Capsules

January 12, 2010
TC Sleep Medic – Natural Sleep Aid

Natural Sleep AidDo you have trouble Falling Asleep?
 
Do you experience Lack of Sleep on a regular basis?
 
Are your Sleep Cycles getting Shorter & shorter?
 
Are you frequently Waking Up throughout the Night?

 Is your Inability to Sleep interfering with your everyday life?

Sleep Medic is a Natural Sleep Remedy that contains minerals and herbs to help you fall asleep and slay asleep all night long. With Sleep Medic you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on your day.
 
SleepMedic is a synergistic blend of natural herbs, vitamins and minerals that promote deep, healthy sleep.
 
SleepMedic, unlike a lot of prescription drugs, Does not Leave You Hung Over and feeling drugged the next day.

Retail: $24.95
 
SALE Price: $11.96
 
w/ Coupon: SLEEPMED
 

Sleep Medic

Promotes Relaxation and Sleep

Enhances REM Sleep

Improves the Quality & duration of Sleep

INGREDIENTS:

5-HTP

5-HTP is a naturally occurring substance derived from the seed pods of Griffonia Simplicifolia, a West African medicinal plant. It provides the quickest, most effective, and most consistent overall results in treating insomnia. 5-HTP is also an effective alternative for dealing with sleep problems in a safe and natural way compared to sleep medicines. It improves the quality of sleep and makes sleep more restful and rejuvenating, instead of waking feeling tired and worn out.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone in the human body. Melatonin is considered nature’s miracle sleep aid. Melatonin provides wonderful sleep without harmful side effects or addiction from synthetic drugs. As we age, the ability to synthesize melatonin decreases, allowing sleep patterns to change. Melatonin also relieves anxiety, improves mood, and increases daytime energy. Vitamin B6 is added to SleepMedic in order to produce serotonin, which is required for the sleep-triggering hormone called melatonin. 

Valerian Root

Valerian root has been used for thousands of years as a gentle, non-narcotic sedative. Valerian root works directly on the nervous system yielding a relaxing feeling without the morning grogginess of many prescription medications.

Magnesium

Doses of approximately 250 milligrams helps to induce sleep. Magnesium deficiency is responsible for nervousness that prevents sleep. A high magnesium diet has been found to be associated with high-quality sleep time and few nighttime wakings. Magnesium supplementation has been reported to reduce sleep latency and result in uninterrupted sleep.

Inositol

Inositol has a mild anti-anxiety effect and is useful in promoting deep sleep. It is good for sleep, as well as possibly helping to utilize fat and cholesterol during sleep. Inositol also enhances REM sleep.

Passion Flower, Hops, & Lemon Balm

These herbs have traditionally been used to help promote relaxation and sleep.
Passion Flower

Passion flower has a mild sedative effect that encourages sleep. This property has been well substantiated in numerous studies on animals and humans.

Hops has been used for centuries for it’s sedative qualities to help promote positive support for sleep difficulty, occasional anxiety, restlessness, nervousness and tension.

Lemon Balm, in studies, has been found to reduce anxiety and promote sleep when combined with other calming herbs (such as valerian, hops or chamomile.)