Restful sleep is so vital to good health. Your body is busy when you are asleep with activities like removing toxins, boosting immunity, and rejuvenating the body and brain. The lack of a good night’s sleep can be felt in memory lapses, less critical and creative thinking ability, slow reaction time, and loss of productivity. In fact, lack of sleep is a major cause of traffic accidents in the United States.
But sometimes all efforts to achieve beneficial sleep, such as stretching, dimming lights, having a comfortable room temperature, and investing in quality cozy bedding, seem fruitless and can even be frustrating. Those who find themselves in such a predicament might want to consider increasing levels of melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland and also synthesized by some plants, to receive a good night’s rest.
Dimming lights sends a signal to the brain to secrete melatonin. Melatonin levels can also be increased by consuming foods such as:
- St. John’s Wort
- Sunflower seeds
- Tart cherries
Levels of melatonin can also be increased by taking supplemental melatonin capsules under the guidance of a health advisor. Melatonin aids sleep by lessening the time required to fall asleep and increasing the quality of sleep. Melatonin can negate the negative effects of jet lag and help the adjustment in a new time zone.
Not only does melatonin aid sleep, it also has immune enhancing and anti-aging properties. In fact, low serum levels of melatonin are commonly seen in women diagnosed with breast cancer and men diagnosed with prostate cancer.
A good read: Power Sleep, by Dr. James B. Maas
THREE CHEERS FOR: SPRY DENTAL PRODUCTS
Xylitol, a sugar alcohol, is recognized as a natural sugar substitute. When added to dental products, xylitol not only tastes good, it aids in cavity prevention because it attracts and then inhibits harmful bacteria and microorganisms. Xylitol is recommended by dentists.
Xylitol is found in Spry products, which include gum, mints, candy, oral rinse, and nasal spray.
For more research, visit http://www.sprydental.com
GIVE ME FIVE
Five vision enhancers (with Lutein):
- Broccoli
- Corn
- Garden peas
- Spinach
- Zucchini
