SLEEP SUNDAY – MORE WAYS TO HELP YOU SLEEP…

Only a few more sleeps to Santa coming now but with everything else going on in the world it won’t be just the children who are missing their sleep.

Over the last month, I’ve been up in the night writing lists then reading to try and get my mind on something else. We cannot help it at the moment as there is so much to think about.

One minute they are telling us that we need a full night sleep to function correctly and even that sleeping may help you to lose some weight! Now, researchers are careful to note however that oversleeping has been linked to a host of medical problems, including diabetes and heart disease.

They say that sometimes circumstances mean we need more sleep, for instance during times of stress or illness ( like now). But, the typically recommended amount of sleep for adults should be between seven and nine hours each night.

Some tips to help you sleep if you are having difficulty at the moment are:

1. Have a glass of semi-skimmed milk with 2 teaspoons of honey before you got to bed for a natural goodnight’s sleep. Our immune system also works harder during sleep to fight and prevent illness.

2. Take Melatonin which is a hormone that plays a key part in regulating your natural body-clock. Studies have shown that melatonin improves sleep quality, particularly in the elderly.

3. Take Valerian as it is thought to have a sedative effect. Studies have shown that the root of the valerian makes getting to sleep easier and increases a deeper sleep.

4. Eat more leeks and onions or garlic and artichokes as they contain prebiotic fibres that fuel the healthy bacteria in our gut and can have a profound effect on our health and sleep.

5. Some CBD products help. For me personally, I prefer the gummies as I think they work better and easier to monitor how many you have had. They certainly relax you if nothing else.

6. Some people do truly believe acupressure to help you sleep. Use your first two fingers and tap them across the top of your head from temple to temple. Then work from front to back and side to side as this can get blood and oxygen moving to ease tension and restore focus.