As we get older, we don’t produce as much melatonin, which is the hormone that helps us sleep. If we don’t have enough melatonin, our body will pull it from our serotonin reserve in order to make it. I have started using the drug-free, non-transdermal, phototherapy “Silent Night” patches. They really help me. Silent Night patches can help regulate sleep through helping the body with melatonin production. The Silent Night patches also help reduce oxidative stress, because melatonin is an antioxidant. I have been using them about 3 years. I love them.

If I am having a tough time relaxing, or I am dealing with a lot of stress, or an injury, I might also use the drug-free, non-transdermal Aeon patch. It can reduce anxiety, lift your mood, as well as helps decrease pain and inflammation. (If you want to try the non-transdermal patches, my referral number is 1439757. Let me know when you are ordering them, so I can help you place your order, and/or give you tips to use them in the most effective way possible.)

You can also supplement melatonin. These melatonin supplements usually come in different strengths (one to three milligrams).

Dr. Gary Massad has researched melatonin and sleep problems in depth. He told me that the studies show that if you take half a milligram of melatonin around three or four in the afternoon, and another half milligram about an hour before bedtime, it will work most effectively. If a melatonin supplement is taken, it saves our reserves of serotonin, which affects our mood. If you aren’t draining it, you will have more serotonin to help with sustaining positive moods.

Melatonin works much better with ample Vitamin B in your system. If you are concerned about vitamin B, take a good whole-food Vitamin B complex supplement. Some medical experts think that a Vitamin B spray under the tongue is the best type of supplement source, because it is absorbed more effectively. Vitamin B’s are water-soluble and need to be replenished daily.

Hormone (progesterone) imbalances can also disrupt our sleep patterns. Many of the toxins in our environment can disrupt our hormones. I feel that we are constantly trying to keep our bodies in balance, and detoxified from all of these toxins that are so prevalent in our air, water, and food.

I use the Lifewave SP6 patch. This patch naturally balances my hormones. It’s easy, and I find it very effective. (If you want to try the Lifewave patches, my referral number is 1439757. Let me know when you are ordering them, so I can help you place your order, and/or give you tips to use them in the most effective way possible.)

If you are supplementing, I recommend only using a vitamin from a whole food or naturally mined source. I do not recommend ever taking synthetic vitamins or minerals.

Experiment to find out what works best for you. In fact, what works for you might even change from time to time.

What Lifestyle Suggestions Can Help You Sleep?

Eat a light, early supper.

Exercise and breathe deeply.

Make the bedroom a place of peace and tranquility, with as little EMF (electromagnetic field) disturbance, noise, and light as possible.
I sleep on a grounding sheet at night. It’s amazing how I fall asleep so quickly now and also sleep deeply. I highly recommend it.

Write down a list of things you must do tomorrow. (This will get all of those thoughts out of your brain about the next day.)

Think calming thoughts that are positive, uplifting, and filled with gratitude and thankfulness for 20 minutes right before bedtime.

Write down five things that you are grateful for, or five miracles that happened to you or your loved one, or child today, or five things that you want to happen tomorrow.

Focus on the most positive things you can. (I found this was a perfect time for me to fill in my children’s baby books. It’s positive and it contains their first words, steps, discoveries, accomplishments, food favorites, people they met, funny events, and more.)

Stay hydrated. (It takes 24 glasses of water to rehydrate after one soda. Carbonated drinks are not hydrating. CO2 is our body’s waste and it is putting waste into the cells.)

Try a sleep CD to help relax the mind and body. You might also listen to recorded sounds of rain or ocean waves to help with sleep. They can relax your mind.

All of these things will contribute to your relaxation, and you can rest with peace for a healing sleep.

Food and Sleep Patterns

When you sleep, your body heals itself. I suggest you try to eat lighter at dinner, and give yourself at least three hours between your meal and bed. If your body has to digest and process food, then it has to work hard, and it’s not able to rest and restore.

Give your body a break and have some soup for dinner or a light vegetarian meal. It would help to make your breakfast and lunch the main meals of the day.

If digestion is an issue, lie down on your left side for about 20 minutes. According to Ayurveda healing tradition, when we sleep on the left side, our lymphatic system drains more efficiently, our heart beats more smoothly, our spleen function is supported, our bile flows easier, and because of gravity, our food moves more effortlessly from the small intestine to the large intestine. When you lie on the left side, the stomach and pancreas hang naturally, allowing for optimal and efficient digestion. Good advice comes from an old Ayurvedic remedy.

If your body is acidic, try drinking a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water to neutralize the acid. I add a pinch of unrefined, mineral-rich sea salt to this as well. What an easy, inexpensive solution! Drink healthy, hydrating fluids during the day, but don’t drink too much right before bed. Then you won’t have a need to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.

Drink herbal nighttime teas (chamomile tea is a good choice), which can encourage rest and sleep. Also, eating tart cherries or consuming tart cherry juice can assist in obtaining a better night’s sleep.

Take a magnesium supplement after your dinner meal. You might try a supplement with a combination of magnesium forms like BIOptimizer or Organixx brand of magnesium 7, with different forms of magnesium in them. (I like these the best.)

What do some of the various types of magnesium do?

Magnesium taurateis a magnesium salt bound to the amino acid taurine, which is produced within the body and is concentrated in the muscles, heart, brain, and eyes. Both taurine and magnesium stimulate and stabilize the nervous system, creating a state of relaxation and helping to “calm the nerves.”

Magnesium orotate can have a postive effects on the myocardium under conditions of stress ranging from myocardial infarction to intense physical exercise.

Magnesium Chelate (Muscle Recovery) Chelated forms of magnesium provide the best absorbency in comparison to non-chelated. Published research by the New York Headache Center discusses that 400 mg of chelated magnesium a day is especially helpful for pre-menstrual syndrome, as well as foot and leg cramps.

Magnesium Glycinate (Sleep, Anxiety & Brain Health) One of the best forms of magnesium, magnesium glycinate (also known as magnesium diglycinate or magnesium bisglycinate) is a chelated form of magnesium that contains the amino acid glycine. Glycine is the amino acid that is able to cross the blood-brain barrier. It is known for beneficial characteristics relating to sleep and brain health. I like a drink called Moonbrew link, that has this type of magnesium in it, along with other helpful ingredients for deep sleep.

Enjoy a relaxing evening bath or foot-bath, as this will calm you before bedtime. Fill up a warm or hot bath and soak for ten minutes or more. I like to put mineral salts (Magnesium-Chloride Bath Flakes) in my bath.

I also add a little organic apple cider vinegar to my bath water to aid in adjusting the PH balance in my body. Right before I step into the tub, I add a few drops of one of my favorite essential oils. I add them last, so they won’t evaporate before I can get in and enjoy the aroma.

For night-time relaxation, my favorite essential oil is lavender.
My formula for my bath water is 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 cup Magnesium-Chloride Bath Flakes, 1⁄4 cup of baking soda, and 5–10 drops of essential oil.

I have a water purifier on my shower head, and I fill my bath through my shower head. I don’t like to have chlorine and fluoride in my shower and bath water, because our skin absorbs things so quickly and easily. (That’s why so many medicines are on patches.)

Both chlorine and fluoride are carcinogens. Did you know that chlorine was the first chemical developed to kill in warfare? That’s why I avoid it whenever I can. The purifier also removes fluoride and other toxins.

Peppermint, rosemary, and eucalyptus oils invigorate me, so I use those in the morning. If you can’t take a bath, a good foot soak can be beneficial and relaxing as well.

After your shower or foot bath, dry off and put on a soothing body lotion, cream, or oil (example: pure organic coconut oil) to seal in the moisture. This helps avoid itchy, dry skin during the night. If you’re like me, you sleep better in comfortable clothing and sheets, so you might splurge on the quality of your bed linens and night clothes. It makes me feel better, and I look forward to putting them on and getting into bed. I feel like I’m pampering myself.

I hope one or more of these suggestions will help you get a deep, relaxing, and restorative night’s sleep!

copyright@nancyaddison2023

Nancy’s 7 books on Amazon are also in Audio and some of them are in large print:
https://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Addison/e/B00E6K5KGY/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1

Nancy’s website is: https://www.organichealthylife.com
Support Nancy’s work – Donate on venmo – @Nancy-Addison

Medical Disclaimer:
Information provided in this podcast, blog, article, video is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.
Do not use the information provided in this blog, audio podcast, article, video  for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this email.

Information provided in this video or audio and the use of any products or services related to this video by you DOES NOT create a health counselor-client relationship between you and Nancy Addison, certified health counselor. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

The post Holistic Sleep Remedies appeared first on Organic Healthy Life - Nancy Addison - Nutrition.

More and more people of all ages have told me how they either have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. As we get older, we don’t produce as much melatonin, which is the hormone that helps us sleep. If we don’t have enough melatonin, our body will pull it from our serotonin reserve in order to make it. You can buy melatonin as a supplement at the store. It comes in different strengths (one to three milligrams).

Dr. Gary Massad has researched melatonin and sleep problems in depth. He told me that the studies show that if you take half a milligram of melatonin around three in the afternoon, and another half milligram about an hour before bedtime, it will work most effectively. If a melatonin supplement is taken, it saves our reserves of serotonin, which affects our mood. If you aren’t draining your melatonin reserves, you will have more serotonin to help with sustaining positive moods.

Melatonin works much better with ample Vitamin B in your system. If you are concerned about Vitamin B, take a good whole-food Vitamin B complex supplement. Some medical experts think that a Vitamin B spray under the tongue is the best type of supplement source, because it is absorbed more effectively. Vitamin B’s are water-soluble and need to be replenished daily.

Hormone imbalances (specifically low progesterone) can also disrupt our sleep patterns. Have your doctor check you for a hormone imbalance, or an adrenal or vitamin deficiency.

In the last two years, I have been using a marvelous new technology that activates and elevates the body’s copper peptide
GHK-cu (copper) peptide, and It’s called the X 39. This peptide resets 4000 genes to a younger state, helps repair collagen in all tissues, activates stem cell production, encourages apoptosis of cancer cells and discourages metastatic cancer cells. Using X39 people have better sleep, less pain and less inflammation.

This company also makes a wonderful “Silent Night” patch, that many of my clients are using at night to get a better, deeper nights sleep. Some of my clients said they have been told they are not snoring any longer also.

Contact me by text at 214-2302-9243, if you want to know more. If you order them, please use my referral number, 1439757, so I can help you use them in the most effective way possible.

Experiment to find out what works best for you. In fact, what works for you might change from time to time.

What Can Help You Sleep?

· Exercise daily and breathe deeply.

· Make the bedroom a place of peace and tranquility, with as little EMF (electromagnetic field) disturbance, noise, and light as possible. (I sleep on a grounding bottom sheet now. It’s amazing how I fall asleep so quickly now and sleep so soundly. I highly recommend them. I wake up feeling so rested and refreshed.)

· Write down a list of things you must do tomorrow. (This will get all of those thoughts out of your brain about the next day.)

· Think calming thoughts that are positive, uplifting, and filled with gratitude and thankfulness for 20 minutes right before bedtime. (You might write down five things that you are grateful for, or five miracles that happened to you or your child today, or five things that you want to happen tomorrow).

· Stay hydrated. Drink healthy, hydrating fluids during the day, but don’t drink too much right before bed. Then you won’t have a need to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.

· Try a sleep CD to help relax the mind and body. You might also listen to recorded sounds of rain or ocean waves to help with sleep. They can relax your mind.

· There is a technology company that makes non-transdermal patches. I use them, and there is specific patch for better sleep.  It is called Silent Night. I have been wearing these patches for the past year and a half.
I noticed almost immediately that I was sleeping more soundly and I even began to have positive vivid dreams. If you wish to know more, click here to see how patches with phototherapy works. (Contact me (214-202-9243 and text me first), if you wish to know more.)

· I suggest you try to eat lighter at dinner, and give yourself at least three hours between your meal and bed. If your body has to digest and process food, then it has to work hard, and it’s not able to rest and restore. Give your body a break and have some soup for dinner or a light vegetarian meal. It would help to make your breakfast and lunch the main meals of the day.

· If digestion is an issue, lie down on your left side for about 20 minutes. According to Ayurveda healing tradition, when we sleep on the left side, our lymphatic system drains more efficiently, our heart beats more smoothly, our spleen function is supported, our bile flows easier, and because of gravity, our food moves more effortlessly from the small intestine to the large intestine. When you lie on the left side, the stomach and pancreas hang naturally, allowing for optimal and efficient digestion. That is good advice comes from an old Ayurvedic remedy.
If your body is acidic, try drinking a ½ teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water to neutralize the acid. I add a pinch of unrefined, mineral-rich sea salt to this as well. What an easy, inexpensive solution!

· There are some sleep enhancing food and beverages. Drink herbal teas (chamomile tea is a good choice), which can encourage rest and sleep. Note: You may want to drink this an hour or two before bed, so you are not compelled to get up during the night. Also eating tart cherries or consuming tart cherry juice can assist in obtaining a better night’s sleep.

· Take a relaxing evening bath or foot-bath as this will calm you before bedtime. Fill up a warm or hot bath and soak for ten minutes or more. I like to put mineral salts (Magnesium Chloride Bath Flakes) in my bath. Right before I step into the tub, I add a few drops of one of my favorite essential oils. I add them last, so they won’t evaporate before I can get in and enjoy the aroma.
For night-time relaxation, my favorite essential oil is lavender.
My formula for my bath water is 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 cup Magnesium Chloride Bath Flakes, 1⁄4 cup of baking soda, and 5–10 drops of essential oil, like lavender or frankincense.

After your shower or foot bath, dry off and put on a soothing body lotion or cream to seal in the moisture. This helps avoid itchy, dry skin during the night. If you’re like me, you sleep better in comfortable clothing and sheets, so you might splurge on the quality of your bed linens and night clothes. It makes me feel better, and I look forward to putting them on and getting into bed. I feel like I’m pampering myself.

I hope one or more of these suggestions will help you get a deep, relaxing, and restorative night’s sleep. I wish you sweet dreams.

copyright@nancyaddison2023

Nancy’s 7 books on Amazon are also in Audio and some of them are in large print:

 https://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Addison/e/B00E6K5KGY/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1

Nancy’s website is: http://www.organichealthylife.com

Support Nancy’s work – Donate on venmo – @Nancy-Addison

Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast, blog, article, video is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.

Do not use the information provided in this blog, audio podcast, article, video  for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this email.

Information provided in this video or audio and the use of any products or services related to this video by you DOES NOT create a health counselor-client relationship between you and Nancy Addison, certified health counselor. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

The post Holistic Remedies For Better Sleep appeared first on Organic Healthy Life - Nancy Addison - Nutrition.

I have noticed that most people are so busy doing everything for everyone else, that they aren’t making enough time to nurture and take care of themselves. Let’s face it, the better we take care of ourselves, the better we can take care of the ones we love.

We all need to take some time each day to slow down, calm the mind, and rest. If we don’t take a little time for ourselves, stress can get hold of us.

Stress is called the “silent killer” for a reason. Stress will put the body into survival mode, and it will break down the immune system. The last thing we need to be doing to ourselves during this busy time is to break down our own immune system.

A nice hot bath or foot soak at the end of the day is always a wonderful way to relax and release stress. You might add some magnesium to the soak. Magnesium is an excellent mineral that can alleviate sore muscles, tension, and headaches. Magnesium can also help promote a good night’s sleep. Magnesium is a water-soluble mineral, so we need to replenish it daily.

I have found that magnesium chloride is the most absorbable version of magnesium. Most magnesium supplements are synthetic. The one I’m using now is naturally mined and is food grade. You can also use a lotion topically, which is very effective. This magnesium chloride I use can be ordered from Elektra Magnesium. (Call to order Direct at 305-788-7629 and use the code NancyA10).

Along with that, here are additional techniques on how to get a handle on stress, and boost the immune system as well!

First – Breathe! Breathe deeply into the diaphragm. When we are stressed, we tend to hold our breath and/or only breathe into our upper lungs. When we do this, it cuts off much of the oxygen to the brain, which makes it harder to think. This type of shallow breathing also tells the body that we are in a fight or flight mode.

Research that has been done with deep breathing exercises has shown an immediate positive impact affecting blood pressure and the PH of the blood. According to Esther Sternberg, a physician and researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health, and author of several books about stress, “Slow Deep Breathing can actually stimulate the body’s reaction that will calm us down.” She says deep breathing is like putting on the brakes of your car.

Pranayama yoga uses breathwork as a regular part of their practice. Cleveland’s Integrative Medicine Clinic has their chronic disease patients learn and practice breathing, using yoga techniques.

Mladen Golubic, a physician at the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Integrative Medicine, says “You can influence asthma, you can influence chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and you can influence heart failure.” There are studies that show that people with those conditions who practice breathing exercises regularly, benefit greatly.

According to Sternberg, when you’re stressed, the body immune system’s ability to do its job to fight infections is seriously compromised. If you want to handle a stressful situation, boost the immune system, and ultimately feel better, you need to breathe deeply and slowly on a regular basis. It’s free, easy, and you can do it anytime and anywhere!

Second- Eat whole organic foods (that are in their pure form, not from a package or fast food container), and eliminate caffeinated beverages from your diet. Many people rely on and become dependent on beverages that contain various forms of caffeine to help them deal with fatigue, which can be caused by stress. Caffeine will actually raise the level of stress hormones in the body, is a bowel irritant, and it is also dehydrating.

Get off the roller coaster of caffeine and try for a steady, even stride of energy. Hydrate your body with abundant amounts of water first thing in the morning, as soon as you wake up and before eating anything. Then eat a densely nutritious breakfast. When our body is really fed on a deep cellular level, we are giving the body the fuel it needs to run on.

Dehydration is a major cause of disease and illness, so hydrate with water or coconut water between meals. Don’t drink water with meals. Drinking water with meals waters down the digestive juices and can keep the body from fully digesting the food. Drink water between meals for hydration. Add a tiny bit of whole unrefined sea salt (electrolyte is a fancy medical term for salt) to the water for additional minerals. This will help the body absorb the water more effectively.

Third: Get a good night’s sleep. Every night, make the last 30 minutes before bed a time of reflection, gratitude, and positive, peaceful thoughts. Sleeping is where our body rejuvenates itself.

A good night’s sleep can make a world of difference in our health and well-being. What we focus on before bed is what our mind is going to ponder over for hours throughout the night.

Have your sleeping space free of clutter and electronics. Make sure that your bedroom can be completely dark. Light can disrupt the sleeping pattern, even if it is just a little nightlight.

Get off your computer or cell phone at least 30 minutes before going to sleep. Unplug your wifi. Free up the mind by taking about 20 or 30 minutes to focus the mind on something positive, joyful and peaceful.

You can also download f.lux (for free) to your computer to help block the blue light as it gets closer to evening. The blue light from cell phones, ipads, or computers can negatively affect our melatonin hormone, which can cause sleep disorders. The elimination of the blue light and tech from your bedroom will create a more peaceful healing environment for restful deep sleep.

Make a list of the things that are on your mind and also things that need to be done the next day. Put them down and get them out of your head. Release the thoughts about problems, and shift the focus to solutions.

Studies done by the Heartmath Institute show that when we focus on positive thoughts like gratitude, compassion or caring, we can actually activate healing responses in the body to the point of even activating our own stem cells.

Meditate, and if you like, you can do it with some soft uplifting music or sounds of running water. If you do need to do something, then read or watch something that is uplifting, positive and relaxing.

Fourth: Make time for laughter! There have been numerous studies revealing clear evidence that episodes of laughter helped to reduce pain, decreased stress-related hormones, boosted the immune system, and decreased anxiety.

I’m actually a certified laughing yoga instructor because I believe in the power of laughter so much. There are now laughter clubs around the world, because there have been so many documented cases that laughter can cure all kinds of health problems and increase the quality of life.

Cancer Centers of America uses laughter therapy now, and says it can:

• Enhance oxygen intake
• Stimulate the heart and lungs
• Relax muscles throughout the body
• Trigger the release of endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers)
• Ease digestion/soothe stomach aches
• Relieve pain
• Balance blood pressure
• Improve mental functions (i.e., alertness, memory, creativity)

Laughter therapy may also help to:

• Improves overall attitude
• Reduce stress/tension
• Promote relaxation
• Improve sleep
• Enhances the quality of life
• Strengthen social bonds and relationships
• Produce a general sense of well-being

(With the opioid crisis killing over 140 people a day, more people have died from opiods than died in the Vietnam War. Don’t you think laughter may be a healthier solution?)

This last year, my daughter Amanda showed me a wonderful free app called Snap Chat. It is easy to use, and it has a part of it that allows you to create funny faces and scenarios. If you follow me on Instagram (nancy.organichealthylife) or facebook (Nancy – Organic Healthy Life), you have probably seen some of the ones I have done with my daughter or my mother.

My mother, who is 92 and doesn’t get out much, absolutely loves it. Each time we find ourselves laughing so hard, I smile the rest of the day or week! It can be a fun thing to do with anyone. It’s easy, free, and can release tension and lift spirits in moments.

I recommend finding something like that, or a great song or movie that makes you feel joyful. Play it whenever you need to shift your energy or lift your mood.

When we are laughing, we can’t be worrying about the past or the future. It makes us completely present. Try it, you may like it.

In conclusion: I heard that in today’s world, we are confronted with more input in one day than our grandparents were in a whole year. As life is speeding up, it is important to know how to slow down, take some time to stop and smell the roses, and focus on what is important in life. Ultimately it is a choice.

If you are feeling depressed or low, find a place to volunteer, or get involved with a group that is doing something that interests you. When we are helping others, or getting involved, we find ourselves feeling empowered, and it can lift our mood and create happiness in our life.

Breathe deeply, eat and drink whole fresh food, focus on the solution and positive things in life, find something that can make you laugh, and release stress from your life.

I send you wishes and love for a marvelous fall season.

The post Embrace The Present And Take Care Of Yourself appeared first on Organic Healthy Life - Nancy Addison - Nutrition.

You might also listen to recorded sounds of rain or ocean waves to help with sleep. They can relax your mind. Experiment to find out what works best for you. In fact, what works for you might change from time to time.

What Can Help You Sleep?

• Eat a light, comforting early supper.
• Exercise and breathe deeply.
• Make the bedroom a place of peace and tranquility, with as little radiation, annoying noise, and light as possible.
• Sleep on grounding sheets or a grounding bottom sheet. (It helps me immensely!)
• Use the Lifewave X39 in the day and the Silent Night Patch at night.
• Write down your list of things you must do tomorrow. This will get all those thoughts out of your brain about the next day.
• Think calming thoughts that are positive, uplifting, and filled with gratitude and thankfulness for 20 minutes right before bedtime.
• Write down five things that you are grateful for, or five miracles that happened to you or your child today, or five things that you want to happen tomorrow. Focus on the most positive things you can. (I found this was a perfect time for me to put these in my children’s baby books for them for the future, so they read about what they were doing as they grew up. First words, steps, discoveries, accomplishments, food favorites, people they met, funny events, and more.)
• Stay hydrated.
• Read a good book, with a positive message.
• Try a sleep CD to help relax the mind and body.
•  If your mattress is more than 10 years old, consider replacing it.

All of these things will contribute to being better able to  relax later and rest with peace for a healing sleep.

Food and Sleep Patterns

When you rest is when your body heals itself. I suggest you don’t eat anything about three hours before bed. If your body has to digest and process food, then it’s working. Allow it to rest and restore overnight, it needs to be free of chores and responsibilities. So give your body a break and have some soup for dinner or a light vegetarian meal. It would help to make your morning and lunch meal the main meals of the day.

The post How To Sleep And Rest Better appeared first on Organic Healthy Life - Nancy Addison - Nutrition.

First: Before going to a cocktail party, I usually take one tsp. of raw, organic green food powder (I like “Perfect Food” powder by Garden of Life, spirulina powder, or chlorella powder), and 1 tsp. of organic psyllium husks, with a little water. I then drink another glass (16 ounces) of water immediately afterwards.

Doing this makes me feel a bit full and prevents me from showing up to a party hungry, which can lend itself to overeating.  This drink mixture  also contains a lot of fiber, which can be helpful if one overindulges in the liquid spirits at the party.

Second: When I am in a buffet line, or at a party where there is an amazing amount of food, I use an appetizer or salad plate instead of a dinner plate. People who do this, on average, eat 40 percent less! I try to choose cut up fresh veggies, hummus and other truly healthy foods. In addition, I try to avoid sugar.

According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, one teaspoon of added sugar shuts down a person’s immune system for up to five hours. (1) Since I am wanting to feel really great this season, boost my immune system, and avoid being sick, I keep this in mind while I am eyeing the beautiful deserts and goodies.

Third: If overindulgence in spirits is a problem, here are a few natural ways to help relieve a hangover:

Remedy #1: Combine 1 tsp. raw, unfiltered honey, 1/2 c. freshly squeezed orange juice, and ¼ c. kefir or yogurt. Consume. 
•   Remedy #2: Soak organic dates
(pitted) in water for a few hours or more. Drink the water and eat the dates.

Remedy #3: Eat a banana.

Remedy #4: If feeling nauseous, try cutting up a bit of fresh organic, ginger root (you can buy this in the fresh produce section of the grocery store) into little pieces, and steeping it in hot water for about 3 – 5 minutes to make a ginger tea. It is very effective for relieving nausea.

Four: Make sure to get enough rest. Everyone has experienced the fatigue, lack of focus, and short temperedness that can follow a poor night’s sleep. We don’t want to experience that during the holidays! But even beyond these side effects, research has linked poor sleep with higher risks of heart disease and stroke, Type 2 Diabetes, and depression.(2)

If you have trouble sleeping, try having a little chamomile tea or warm milk (hemp, coconut or from organic, humanely raised, and grass fed cows or goats) with 1 tiny bit of raw, unfiltered honey.
If you are under a lot of stress and need a little relief, valerian root can help with tension or anxiety. For thousands of years, the herb valerian has been used in Europe and Asia to aid with sleep or anxiety. For insomnia, it’s suggested you use between 400 milligrams to 500 milligrams of valerian root up to two hours before bed.

Also, as we get older, humans don’t produce as much melatonin, which is what helps us sleep. You can buy melatonin as a supplement at the store. It comes in different strengths (one to three milligrams). Dr. Gary Massad, who has researched melatonin and sleep problems in depth, states that studies show if you take half a milligram of melatonin around three or four in the afternoon and then another half gram again about an hour before bedtime, it will work most effectively.

Other hormone imbalances can also disrupt sleep patterns, so have your doctor check you for any hormone imbalance or vitamin deficiencies. I recommend only using a vitamin from a whole food source, and I do not recommend ever taking synthetic vitamins.

You might also listen to recorded sounds of rain or ocean waves to help with sleep, as they may relax your mind. Experiment to find out what works best for you.

Five: Most people are so busy doing everything for everyone else, that they aren’t making enough time to nurture and take care of themselves. Let’s face it, the better we take care of ourselves, the better we can take care of the ones we love.

Make sure you take some time each day to slow down, calm the mind, get a little exercise, and love yourself. If we don’t take a little time for ourselves, stress can get hold of us.

Try making an appointment with yourself each day to slow down, rest, exercise, and do whatever you need to do to take care of yourself. Even consider marking it in your calendar or setting a daily timer to keep you on track. Try and keep that appointment like it is with your most important client or friend.
I have exercise down as an appointment, and although I reschedule once in a while, I don’t cancel it because it is a commitment to myself (even if that just means walking around the block briskly).

Six: If you’re feeling blue, pamper yourself and do what feels good. Try to take a walk, or spend time alone if that’s what you want. Remember, this is your holiday too and you can be there for yourself just like you try to be for everyone else.

I’ve spent many a holiday alone. Sometimes I have felt a little blue. When that happens, I intentionally will shift my focus to something new. Exercise has been shown to help with weight maintenance, health, stress relief and depression. So, make sure you keep it in your schedule. Or, I may turn on a funny movie, take a walk, turn on joyful music and call a friend to come over, or take a supplement called 5 HTP.
5-HTP or 5-hydroxytryptophan, is an essential amino acid that can increase the levels of serotonin in the brain, similar to antidepressants.

Low levels of serotonin can contribute to the development of depression and increased appetite. I have found 5 HTP really helps me when I am feeling low. Studies show it begins working as quickly as 15 to 20 minutes after taking it. You can purchase it at a healthy grocery store.

Remember, the holidays only come once a year and only last for a short time. So many of us have an idealized idea of what the holidays should be like and can be disappointed when they don’t live up to those expectations.

Try to be realistic and remember, nobody has a perfect holiday or perfect family. If you follow these tips, you might just find this year to be healthier, less stressful and more joyful!

Please leave a comment and join the conversation!

Everyone would love to hear what you think!

Sources:
1- Albert Sanchez, J. L. Reeser, H. S. Lau, P. Y. Yahiku, R. E. Willard, P. J. McMillan, S. Y. Cho, A. R. Magie, and U. D. Register. “Role of sugars in human neutrophilic phagocytosis.” The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc. 1973. http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/26/11/1180.abstract.
2- NHS, Government of United Kingdom, Why lack of sleep is bad for your health 
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/tiredness-and-fatigue/Pages/lack-of-sleep-health-risks.aspx.

3- Find a Vitamin or Supplement, 5 – HTP,, Web MD, http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-794-5-HTP.aspx?activeIngredientId=794&activeIngredientName=5-HTP.
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