Eat, sleep, repeat. There are a few basic things we need in order to survive, and sleep is one of them. The average adult needs 7 or more hours of good-quality sleep on a regular schedule each night. Getting enough sleep isn’t only about total hours of sleep. It’s also important to get good-quality sleep on a regular schedule so you feel rested when you wake up.
As we embark our journey and navigate a new year, we realise a lot of things we want to be doing, and should be doing, for our health and wellbeing. Diet and exercise are usually top of the resolutions list, and so should sleep. Did you know that less sleep per night results in an increased risk of obesity? Sleep deprivation may increase your appetite and cause you to eat more calories. In particular, you’re more likely to eat foods high in sugar and fat.
Don’t put strain on your brain, or body
Sleep is important for various aspects of brain function: Cognition, concentration, productivity, and performance are all negatively affected by sleep deprivation.
A specific study on overworked physicians provides a good example. It found that doctors with moderate, high, and very high sleep-related impairment were 54%, 96%, and 97% more likely to report clinically significant medical errors.
On a similar note, getting enough sleep can improve academic performance in children, adolescents, and young adults.
Finally, good sleep has been shown to improve problem-solving skills and enhance memory performance in both children and adults.
VitaminMe Muscle Relax + Repair contains a magic ingredient that most aren’t aware, helps dramatically with sleep. Not only does it repair muscle tissue after exercise it assist with helping us fall asleep, and stay asleep. On a chemical level, magnesium aids by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, the system responsible for getting you calm and relaxed.
Why can’t I fall asleep?
Many things can make it harder for you to sleep, including:
· Stress or anxiety
· Pain
· Health conditions, like heartburn or asthma
· Caffeine
· Alcohol and other drugs
· Untreated sleep disorders, like sleep apnoea or insomnia
If you’re having trouble sleeping, try making changes to your routine to get the sleep you need. You may want to:
· Change what you do during the day — for example, get your physical activity in the morning instead of at night
· Create a comfortable sleep environment — for example, make sure your bedroom is dark and quiet
· Set a bedtime routine — for example, go to bed at the same time every night
A matter of heart
Sleeping fewer than seven hours per night is linked to an increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. Compared with 7 hours of sleep, each 1-hour decrease in sleep was associated with a 6% increased risk of all-cause mortality and heart disease.
What’s more, short sleep appears to increase the risk of high blood pressure. A recent study found that people who slept fewer than 5 hours per night had a 61% higher risk of developing high blood pressure than those who slept 7 hours or more.
On the flip side of the coin, excessive sleep (more than 9 hours) was also shown to increase the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. There is a middle ground, and it’s important to always listen to your body.
VitaminMe’s Sleep + Anxiety combination of natural ingredients, such as Valerian root, passionflower and Theanine all come together to assist you find the right balance between energy, and sleep. As feelings of anxiety are alleviated, the experience of sleeplessness and insomnia lessens drastically. When we are in a good routine, find a balance between work and play, and our diet is on point, we get good quality, sound shut eye.