New Studies on Sleep Inducing Foods for Insomnia

If we were to eavesdrop and listen in while the “Father of Medicine” Hippocrates spoke to his students in 400 B.C., we would hear him saying: "Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.”  These words ring even more true today, when WorldHealth.net reports that each year prescription drugs injure 1.5 million people to the degree that they require hospitalization. Sleeping drugs, also known as “hypnotics”, come with their own set of side-effects.  For those who seek natural options, some recent research studies have uncovered additional food-based remedies for insomnia. 

In a study from the University of California San Diego, researchers examined the effects of potassium supplementation on sleep quality. A placebo-controlled study compared one week of oral potassium chloride supplements to one week of identical placebo capsules.  Their results were published in the journal “Sleep”, and showed that potassium significantly increased sleep efficiency due to a reduction in “Waking After Sleep Onset”. This indicates an improvement in sleep consolidation (less interruption) with potassium supplementation.

One of the highest sources of potassium is the banana, which contains about 400 milligrams.  Eating a banana before bedtime or during the night may help reduce the frequency of nighttime awakenings.  Other sources of potassium include baked potatoes, sunflower seeds, spinach, almonds and prunes.

In another study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers measured the effect that different types of rice have as sleep remedies.  Mahatma rice (low carbohydrate rice) was compared to Jasmine rice (high in carbohydrates) for their effects on sleep quality.  The rice was eaten either four hours before bedtime or one hour before bedtime. The study concluded that a high carbohydrate-based meal resulted in a significant shortening of the time needed to fall asleep, when eating it four hours before bed time.

The seed oil of garden lettuce has been used in folk medicine since ancient times as a sleeping aid.  A study from the June 2011 issue of the International Journal of General Medicine examined the effectiveness of lettuce seed oil in people who had frequent insomnia.  At the end of the one-week study, eighteen out of the twenty-five patients who took the lettuce seed oil supplements rated their insomnia as “very much or much improved”, while only five of the people in the placebo group reported better sleep.

Eating a lettuce salad with some heart-healthy olive oil in the evening may assist the process of relaxation when it comes time for bed.  The darker the color of green the leaves are, the richer the lettuce is in vitamins and minerals.

According to William Sears, M.D., “The best bedtime snack is one that has both carbohydrates and protein, and perhaps some calcium. Calcium helps the brain use the amino acid tryptophan to manufacture melatonin. This explains why dairy products, which contain both tryptophan and calcium, are one of the top sleep-inducing foods."

Sleep remedies containing highly absorbable, quick acting forms of calcium and magnesium, such as Sleep Minerals II from http://www.NutritionBreakthroughs.com, can be helpful with both falling asleep and staying asleep during the night.  This natural sleep remedy contains six types 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 loss and increase bone density.

Sandy M. of La Verne, California says: I have been using Sleep Minerals II for several months now and I see a marked improvement in my sleep. I have struggled with anxiety and sleeplessness for nearly 15 years -- increasingly so in the last 10 years. I've tried everything on the market including herbal teas, melatonin, GABA, Ambien, Lunesta, and more. Nothing has worked like Sleep Minerals II."

Hippocrates sums it all up by saying: “Natural forces within us are the true healers of disease.”  Many natural remedies have multiple benefits in the body, so seek out natural options that increase your overall life force and greater health.

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

Insomnia in Teenagers – Studies, Remedies and Tips

Teenagers are a special breed, having to face all the challenges of being in an in-between stage of life; not quite a child anymore and not yet an adult.  Along with an acceleration of social interests and activities, they also sustain accelerated physical growth and increased nutritional needs. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 90% of teen girls and 70% of teen boys aren’t getting enough calcium.  Their bones are growing the fastest during the teen years and they need more calcium than at any other time of life.  The calcium deficiency can translate into irritability, nervous tension, hyperactivity, and insomnia.

Adelle Davis was the first nutritionist to base her recommendations on scientific research studies.  She says: “If these hyperactive kids were recognized as victims of malnutrition and given, instead of drugs, a completely adequate diet, especially high in calcium, magnesium, and vitamins B6 and D; the majority might soon be as relaxed as sacks of cotton, their minds far more alert, their energies restored to normal.  I have seen it happen many, many times.”

To shed some light on teenage sleeping habits, a study was published in the April 2010 issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health,  Researchers found that two-thirds of teenage high school students are sleeping less than they need to, when they actually need 9.5 hours of sleep.  Danice Eaton, author of the study and a research scientist in Atlanta said, "….Research (on teens) has shown that a lack of sleep can increase depression, negative physical health, headaches, poor school performance, school absenteeism and drowsy driving.”

There is a correlation between electronics use and insomnia in teens.  A study from the Journal of Pediatrics published a survey of Philadelphia-area teens.  It was found that two-thirds had a television in their bedroom, one third had a computer, 90% had their own cell phone and 79% had a personal music device.  "These technological devices activate the mind. It's like having a stressful work conversation just before getting into bed," said Dr. Jonathan Pletcher, at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.  

Dr. Pletcher doesn’t recommend sleep medication for teens, saying that,  "The risks for this age group far outweigh the benefits.”  He recommends shutting down the computer, TV, and cell phone well before bedtime and doing some relaxing and calming activities before bed.  

Due to a deficiency of crucial minerals at the teenage time of life, calcium and magnesium supplements can be an effective sleep remedy. One natural insomnia remedy that’s gaining in popularity for all ages is Sleep Minerals II from http://www.NutritionBreakthroughs.com.  It contains six forms of calcium, three forms of magnesium, boron, Vitamin D and Vitamin K, all combined in a rapidly absorbed softgel.  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 got 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.”

Besides supplementing with key minerals, there are additional tips to help teens sleep better.  Here is a summary from the Mayo Clinic and National Sleep Foundation:

-- Consuming caffeine close to bedtime can interfere with one’s sleep, so avoid coffee, tea, soda pop and chocolate late in the afternoon.  Nicotine and alcohol will also interfere with sleep.
-- Limit stimulating activities and the use of electronics right before bedtime.
-- Reduce extracurricular activities. Sometimes teens are overextended and participate in too many after-school activities, too late into the evening.
-- Practice relaxing and calming activities before going to bed. For example, do gentle stretches, take a warm bath, or read a pleasant book.
-- Make the bedroom a sleep haven. Keep it cool, quiet and dark. If needed, get eyeshades, earplugs, and blackout curtains. Let in the bright light in the morning to signal the body to wake up.
-- Get regular exercise during the day, but not closer than 3 hours before bedtime.
-- Establish a regular bedtime and wake-time schedule and stick to it, coming as close to it as possible on the weekends. A consistent sleep schedule makes it easier to fall asleep.

Let’s help our teens get the sleep and nutrition they need!

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