Stress and Insomnia in Teenagers - Studies Confirm Natural Remedies

Sometimes the stresses, pressures or demands at work, at school, or at home with family can interfere with our good sleep.  Stress manifests on the physical level by an outpouring of the adrenal gland hormones such as cortisol.  The adrenal glands are two small triangular-shaped glands that sit on top of each kidney.  During times when these stress hormones are increased, they can deplete our calcium levels -- a mineral known to help with relaxation and sleep.

Cortisol has a stimulating effect and can promote wakefulness at the very time when one is trying to fall asleep or stay asleep during the night. Scientists have recently discovered that increased blood levels of cortisol exist in people with chronic insomnia. 

In a recent study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, investigators monitored the sleep of eleven patients with insomnia and thirteen people without sleep disorders.  Blood was collected every thirty minutes for twenty-four hours, and levels of adrenal stress hormones were monitored.  They found that the level of adrenal hormones were significantly higher in the people with insomnia as opposed to the other group.  The insomniacs with the highest degree of sleep disturbances produced the highest amounts of cortisol, particularly in the nighttime hours.

From a nutritional perspective, the mineral calcium has long been known as a natural aid to relaxation and sleep and is directly related to our cycles of sleep. In one study, published in the European Neurology Journal, researchers found that calcium levels in the body are higher during some of the deepest levels of sleep, such as the rapid eye movement (REM) phase. The study concluded that disturbances in sleep, especially the absence of REM deep sleep or disturbed REM sleep, are related to a calcium deficiency. Restoration to the normal course of sleep was achieved following the normalization of the blood calcium level.

Research has uncovered that in the presence of elevated cortisol levels, the amount of calcium is rapidly reduced in the body.  Studies have shown that calcium levels are reduced for as long as the cells are exposed to cortisol, but promptly return to their normal level once the stress hormone is removed.  In light of recent discoveries about the relationship between stress hormones and calcium depletion, it’s likely that nighttime calcium levels can be restored and insomnia calmed by supplementing with highly absorbable forms of this mineral.

One sleep remedy that is gaining popularity due to its highly usable forms of calcium and magnesium is Sleep Minerals II from http://www.NutritionBreakthroughs.com. The product contains highly absorbable forms of calcium, magnesium and vitamin D, all combined in a softgel with carrier oils.

One mother of a teenage son who was suffering with insomnia, was grateful to find Sleep Minerals II.  She says: “Our son began to have trouble sleeping about a year and a half ago. He was up until 2:00 a.m., and then he had to get up at 5:00.  This continued for quite a while.  He was miserable and so were we.  He’s an athlete and a student and we just couldn’t live like this.”

“We had spent hundreds of dollars on testing and supplements with a naturopath and it just didn’t work.  I searched on the Internet and found Sleep Minerals II.  I thought to myself, ‘I’ll give it a try, there’s nothing harmful in it’.  Well, from the get-go it helped Mitchell sleep better.  He’s been using it as a sleep remedy for some time now.  He is sleeping well and is so happy and healthy.  He’s a normal teenager again.  I just can’t say enough about what this product has done for us.”

Other helpful tips to support our health in stressful times include eating nourishing foods such as brightly colored vegetables and fruits, taking food supplements like fish oil capsules and green drink powders, doing some daily exercise like taking walks, and creating positive communications and relationships with others.

For more information on Sleep Minerals II visit http://www.nutritionbreakthroughs.com/html/sleep_remedy_for_insomnia_help.html

Insomnia Remedies: Studies Confirm Calcium and Magnesium Effective

According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), almost six out of ten Americans report having insomnia and sleep problems at least a few nights a week. Insomnia is defined as "An inability to fall asleep or remain asleep long enough to feel rested, especially when the problem continues over time." In an effort to combat this, as many as 25 percent of the people in the United States use medications to help them sleep.

Most sleeping pills, especially when taken over long periods of time, can have multiple side effects. The drugs stay in the bloodstream, give a hangover effect the next day and beyond, and can increase the risk of car and work accidents. They also impair memory and performance on the job and at home.

From a nutritional perspective, several research studies have shown certain minerals to be an effective natural sleep remedy that help people fall asleep and stay asleep through the night. James F. Balch, M.D., author of Prescription for Nutritional Healing, writes: "A lack of the nutrients calcium and magnesium will cause you to wake up after a few hours and not be able to return to sleep."

Calcium is directly related to our cycles of sleep. In one study, published in the European Neurology Journal, researchers found that calcium levels in the body are higher during some of the deepest levels of sleep, such as the rapid eye movement (REM) phase. The study concluded that disturbances in sleep, especially the absence of REM deep sleep or disturbed REM sleep, are related to a calcium deficiency. Restoration to the normal course of sleep was achieved following the normalization of the blood calcium level.

William Sears, M.D. writes: "Calcium helps the brain use the amino acid tryptophan to manufacture the sleep-inducing substance melatonin. This explains why dairy products, which contain both tryptophan and calcium, are one of the top sleep-inducing foods."

In magnesium deficiency, chronic insomnia is one of the main, central symptoms. Sleep is usually agitated with frequent nighttime awakenings. On the other hand, a high magnesium, low aluminum diet has been found to be associated with deeper, less interrupted sleep. This was proven in a study done by James Penland at the Human Nutrition Research Center in North Dakota. The study was titled "Effects of trace element nutrition on sleep patterns in adult women."

It's important to note that a balanced two to one ratio of calcium and magnesium is important to overall health, and these two minerals should be taken together for best results.

Jobee Knight, a nutritional researcher and founder of http://www.NutritionBreakthroughs.com in Glendale, CA., is someone who fought her own battle against sleeplessness and insomnia. She decided to put her background to use by searching out an effective natural insomnia remedy for relaxation and deeper sleep. The result was Sleep Minerals II, a natural sleep aid which contains six forms of calcium, three forms of magnesium, boron, Vitamin D, Vitamin K and horsetail herb – all combined in a softgel with carrier oils. Oils such as evening primrose have been shown to increase mineral absorption, reduce calcium excretion, and increase bone density.

Lyn K. of Los Angeles, CA. says “I’ve had chronic insomnia for some years now and had been taking other calcium products to help with my sleep. None have worked as effectively or consistently as Sleep Minerals II. I can count on it whenever I need help falling asleep at night or going back to sleep in the middle of the night. This is what sets it apart from the rest – it works reliably. And in my life, I need to be well-rested 7 days a week, so I call this product my ‘Sleep Insurance’. It also eases my premenopause symptoms, evens out my hormonal changes, and seems to put my body into a healthy balance."

Isa E. of Glendale, CA. says “For me, I could fall asleep fine, but then I was up in the middle of the night for hours and couldn’t go back to sleep. This went on for a long time and I was very tired during the day. Now when I wake up in the night, I take two of the Sleep Minerals and go right back to sleep. I feel healthier and I also have less cramps in my feet at night. My husband has also had chronic sleep problems for a long time, and this product helps him too." 

For more information on Sleep Minerals II, visit: http://www.nutritionbreakthroughs.com/html/sleep_remedy_for_insomnia_help.html

Sleep Minerals II - A Powerful Natural Insomnia Remedy for Teenagers Sleep

Nutrition Breakthroughs of Glendale California is providing a natural alternative to sleeping drugs with Sleep Minerals II, a potent weapon in the war against insomnia and its many side effects. This next generation of Sleep Minerals features fast absorbing forms of nature’s best-known minerals for relaxation – calcium and magnesium. A recent National Sleep Foundation poll reports that American insomnia rates have increased from 51% to 64% in the last few years.

According to the National Institutes of Health, insomnia can wreak havoc on the health and lives of its sufferers, causing excessive daytime sleepiness and extreme lack of energy.  The sleep-deprived can become irritable and depressed and may have trouble focusing on tasks, paying attention, learning and remembering.  Insomnia can contribute to accidents with machinery, accidents from poor balance, and accidents on the road while driving.

The use of prescription sleeping drugs has steadily increased, and most sleeping pills, especially when taken over long periods of time, stay in the bloodstream, give a hangover effect the next day and beyond, and impair performance on the job and at home.  Insomnia is a major problem for millions of Americans, with 25% of the U.S. using sleeping drugs in an effort to get some rest.  Because of the drug side effects, an increasing number of people are reaching out to find an effective insomnia remedy .

Sleep Minerals II has stepped forward as a potent natural alternative.  It can help the restless sleep whether they are unable to fall asleep at the beginning of the night, or they habitually wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep.  It is an effective insomnia remedy due to its unique combination of ingredients.  It contains highly absorbable forms of minerals, including six types of calcium (carbonate, citrate, gluconate, aspartate, malate, micronized hydroxyapatite), three forms of magnesium (oxide, aspartate, citrate), boron, Vitamin D, Vitamin K and horsetail herb – all combined in a softgel with carrier oils.  Oils such as evening primrose have been shown to increase mineral absorption, reduce calcium excretion, and increase bone density.

Calcium is directly related to our cycles of sleep. One study found that calcium levels were higher during some of the deepest levels of sleep, such as the rapid eye movement (REM) phase.  Calcium is one of the few minerals that acts as a natural sedative, because it causes the release of the sleep-inducing amino acid tryptophan. The well-known nutritionist Adelle Davis says: "A calcium deficiency often shows itself by insomnia, another form of an inability to relax. The harm done by sleeping tablets, to say nothing of the thousands of dollars spent on them, could largely be avoided if the calcium intake were adequate."

Insomnia is also one of the main symptoms of a chronic magnesium deficiency. Sleep in magnesium deficiency is usually agitated with frequent nighttime awakenings. On the other hand, a high magnesium diet has been found to be associated with deeper, less interrupted sleep. This was proven in a study done by James Penland at the Human Nutrition Research Center called "Effects of trace element nutrition on sleep patterns in adult women."

However, no matter how many studies support the use of these ingredients and their unique formulation, the proof is in the pudding.  Lyn K. of Los Angeles, CA. says “I’ve had chronic insomnia for some years now and had been taking other calcium products to help with my sleep. None have worked as effectively or consistently as Sleep Minerals II. I can count on it whenever I need help falling asleep at night or going back to sleep during the night. This is what sets it apart from the rest – it works reliably. And in my life, I need to be well-rested 7 days a week, so I call this product my ‘Sleep Insurance’.  It also eases my menopause symptoms, evens out my hormonal changes, and seems to put my body into a healthy balance."

Veronica R. of British Columbia, Canada says: “This product has worked wonders for me. Before I started taking it, I would fall asleep and wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to get back to sleep (after going to the bathroom). When I got the product, I started taking two of them, and have had no problems going back to sleep. Now I don’t have to be awake for two or three hours every night. I’m so happy I took the chance to try it. I don’t like taking over-the-counter drugs. With Sleep Minerals II, I don’t feel sleepy at all during the day.”

So if you or someone you love is suffering with sleeplessness and insomnia, try putting some Sleep Minerals II into your arsenal of effective natural remedies.

For more information on Sleep Minerals II visit the insomnia remedy web page or the Nutrition Breakthroughs web site.