I just finished reading a great chapter about how adding a melatonin supplement helped a child who had been suffering from poor sleeping habits for years get into a normal sleep pattern. Melatonin is the sleep hormone. According to Kelly Doorfman, melatonin is a natural occurring hormone our bodies produce. This hormone increases and decreases in a 24 hour period regulating our sleep and awake time. Melatonin can also be taken as a supplement with direction from your doctor. Increasing your melatonin levels will help you fall asleep sooner and stay a sleep. Since it is a natural hormone it is not generally seen as habit forming.
How should we be sleeping?
Our bodies regenerate their internal clocks (primarily adrenal system) within the hours of 10-12pm. To improve our health we need to get 7-8 hours starting around 10 or 11 o'clock. Children require 11-14 hours of sleep.
Here are a few strategies to a better night sleep:
- Go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time.
- Keep your feet warm with a bottle or socks as it promotes proper body circulation.
- Avoid food or drinks a few hours before bed in particular sugar and grains as they will raise your blood sugar.
- Sleep in darkness which increases melatonin production.
- Turn lights down close to bedtime.
- Get as much exposure as you can to light during the day as this slows down the melatonin to store it for the night.
- Check your bedroom for Electro Magnetic Fields (as they can affect the production of melatonin.)
- Keep electrical devices away from your bed.
- Have your doctor check your adrenal glands.
- Take melatonin.
-ward of cancers
-reduce risk of seizures
-reduce risk for Alzheimer's disease
-slow down brain age
With all this reading I now realize I need to go to bed. Good night!
This is my oldest daughter on the day of her birth.
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