Sleep Better
Alternative medicine practitioners can make can make sure that finding the right treatment protocol doesn't turn into a nightmare. They realize that sleep disorders often arise from poor diet, toxic overload, disrupted circadian rhythm, emotional stress, disruptive electromagnetic fields, and hormonal imbalances. The majority of sleep problems are symptoms of an unhealthy body, most people with sleep disorders will find relief by taking steps to promote overall health. Even though it often is difficult to make changes in lifestyle, the effort is worth it. The more you take control of your lifestyle the more likely it is that your night-time sleep will become sound and satisfying again.
Jogging, aerobic exercises, concern for cholesterol levels, calorie intake, and nutrition across the board have become the bywords of millions. Yet the importance of the relationship of a great night's sleep to total fitness has been largely overlooked. Take a long walk after dinner. Late afternoon and early evening are the best times for taking a walk. Do not exercise too strenuously; however, as too much activity shortly before bedtime can be stimulating. Although, the majority of us take sleep for granted and are oblivious to the implications of sleep to the total fitness picture. Those suffering from continuing sleeplessness are only too aware now that poor sleep adversely affects daytime functions.
In terms of diet, it is again not so much that good eating habits promote sleep, as that bad eating habits can be disruptive of sleep. Stimulants, like caffeine in coffee, can prove troublesome if they are ingested after late afternoon. Do not drink coffee, tea, or cola after dinner or for some sensitive persons, after lunch. It takes three hours for one cup of caffeine to leave your system. It is well known that caffeine interferes with sleep for most people. It should also be noted that caffeine taken by a nursing mother in any form, coffee, chocolate, soft drinks, or tea is secreted in breast milk. Infants eliminate caffeine poorly. Therefore significant amounts of caffeine can accumulate in the infants of nursing mothers who take caffeine, perhaps resulting in sleep problems.
Whereas alcohol as a nightcap can have delayed affects that cause the sleeper to wake in the middle of the night. In contrast to caffeine, alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. Insomniacs frequently resort to the use of alcohol as a sleep aid. Increasing amounts of alcohol can lead to eventual dependence and abuse. An early evening cocktail, though, helps us to relax and leaves enough time for metabolism of the alcohol to take place without disturbing sleep. A drink or two taken as a nightcap before bedtime, though, may ruin your sleep.
