I met with Julie Ann to talk about the Medulla-Pineal Activation, which she has brought to Singapore.
Eczema is a problem that I never really understood until I experienced it first hand. The first time I developed it, I
| Insomnia Diet: Better Food, Better Sleep |
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1. Turkey for Tryptophan Tryptophan is an important amino acid that your body converts into serotonin and melatonin - both compounds that are vital for regulating natural sleep patterns. Foods that are rich in tryptophan include: turkey, eggs, cottage cheese, nuts (especially almonds), milk and chicken. A turkey sandwich with some almonds and a glass of milk is a perfect, tryptophan-rich bed time snack that could help your brain produce the serotonin your body needs to rest. 2. Bye Bye Booze Although you may think that a glass of red wine will help you to relax and find sleep, alcohol not only depletes your body of the very substances it needs to sleep, it also dehydrates you and shortens your sleep. Best to stay off the booze for a little while until your sleep patterns have regulated themselves. 3. So Long Stimulants Did you know that your body can take up to a day to process the caffeine in one Starbucks Americano? Imagine how hard your body has to work to eliminate several cups of coffee or cola. When we are tired we also tend to load up on chocolate (also contains caffeine) and sugary snacks, which also over stimulate your body, making it impossible to find sleep. Instead of giving you that extra boost that you were hoping for, stimulants actually make you more tired and restless. Break the vicious cycle by starting to cut out caffeine and refined sugar after lunch time. 4. Go Natural Before you go running to the doctor for barbiturates or anti-histamines, you could give natural sleeping aides a try. Certain herbs like valerian, vetiver and lavender have traditionally been used as natural remedies to relax the body and mind and help induce restful sleep. Unlike pharmaceuticals, which have a tendency to give you a "hang over" the following day, valerian, vetiver and lavender help the body in regulating its own natural sleep rhythm. In The Encylopedia of Healing Foods, Dr Michael Murray and Dr Joseph Pizzorno suggest that 2-3 grams of dried valerian root (e.g. as tea) half an hour to 45 minutes before bedtime may help. You could also try adding 1 to 2 drops of valerian or lavender pure essential oil to a glass of milk or pure chamomile tea, which is also known for its soothing properties. 5. Shake that Body Yes, I know it's not food-related, but regular gentle exercise is so important for helping your body find the rest it needs that I just couldn't leave it out. Working out first thing in the morning (even if it's just a brisk 15 minute walk) is the best way to get your body to wake up and those feel-good endorphins into your system (far healthier than bombarding it with coffee!). Avoid strenuous exercise in the evening as that can also disrupt your sleep. But a half hour stroll after dinner could really make a difference.
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It's 3am, you are exhausted and yet for some reason you can't sleep! You've counted a thousand sheep, made a mental shopping list and perhaps seriously considered locating a phone directory to read ... anything to help you fall back to sleep. The next thing you know, your alarm clock is ringing and you don't know how to get through the day without a gallon of coffee or diet coke. Well, here is a list of 5 changes you can make to your diet to help your body find the rest it needs:
