The Natural Sleep Aid Blog

Body weight is something that many people obsess over. It should be remembered however that it is not necessarily the number on the scale that is important; it is how a person, feels, looks and views themselves that is important.

Just because some weight chart says a person of a certain height, age and gender should be a certain weight, does not necessarily mean that they are unfit if they do not match those numbers. Before one goes out on a rampant search for the best diet pill, other factors that contribute to body weight and should be remembered are as follows.

There are many gauges for measuring a person’s body mass and overall health. These tools include BMI, or body mass index, which can determine if a person is over weight or not. Other methods are fat calipers, and scales, as well as the measuring tape.

It is important to remember with these scales however, is that they are not flawless. Most are based on averages and do not take into consideration the individual physical composition of a person. This can skew results and incorrectly label someone who is muscular as obese, when in fact they are far from it.

Measuring body composition with fat calipers is also another method. These provide the most accurate measurements of fat to muscle on the body frame. Corresponding charts provide a number range in which a person of a specific height and weight should fall. It can be observed when looking at these charts that women should have a much higher proportion of fat than men. This is critical for pregnancy.

If after all these tests, it is determined that some weight is needed to be lost, modifications to the diet in conjunction with exercise is the best way to lose weight.

The age of technology has exponentially made available to us the amount of useful information that can better influence our decisions, as well as open the door to many opportunities. However, while it is tempting to use the Internet as sole source of information, it can also be dangerous.

There are many reputable sources of information on the Internet, however for every site that is legitimate; there are others that are not. For this reason, most information that is found on the Web should be taken with a grain of salt. Additionally, while there are instances where patients have been able to cure their mysterious ailment by searching the web, medical professionals spend years in school to better understand the biology, chemistry and physics of how the body works, and are therefore still the best source of diagnosis and treatment.

Hypochondriacs are people who always think they have some serious sickness.  However, the Internet has provided them, as well as others with a new avenue to make a self diagnosis.

Self-diagnosis is very dangerous in that treating the true cause of sickness can be overlooked and proper, effective treatment could be postponed. This can lead to much more serious problems as well as the onset of new problems.

Also on the Internet, information could be false or partial. Misleading information or partial information can lead to a misdiagnosis, but it can be good because it starts conversation with the doctor.

Aside from the fact that information on the Web is quick and convenient, the rising cost of health care has lead more people to treat themselves at home. Studies also show that nearly 80 % of adults who are online go online to look up health information.  The most popular searches are to look for a diet pill online, and other items associated with the best way to lose weight. Product reviews are also popular. Such reviews include hoodia reviews and reviews on other herbal remedies.

Occasionally we all have periods during which we feel exhausted. This feeling of exhaustion can be attributed to many different reasons. While some of those reasons are health related, other contributing factors are ones that we can control such as diet, exercise and lifestyle.

The diet we consume is very much responsible for how we feel. Case in point; after a large meal that is loaded with carbohydrates, fats and sugars, or just eating too much in general, we often feel sleepy, and lethargic.  Wanting to run and take a nap after dinner is a sure sign that too much was consumed or the wrong foods in general were consumed. If overeating is an issue, there are products on the market containing hoodia gordonii that can help suppress the appetite and decrease calorie consumption. Most people feel better when lighter foods and meals are eaten in smaller portions. Smaller meals that are divided up throughout the day as opposed to big large meals are the best way to lose weight and eliminate tiredness. Also, meals that contain any amount of protein, whether it be from lean meats or a whey protein powder mix promote feelings of fullness.

Complementing diet is exercise. Living a sedentary lifestyle with little exercise can contribute to perpetual lethargic feelings. While it may seem difficult to get going initially, it is the first initial effort that is the hardest. Making something a habit takes about 2-3 weeks. Once a healthy habit of walking, for example, is initiated, it will be hard to do without. Getting some exercise promotes better sleep at night and better eating habits in general.

Can your mood be influenced by what you eat? As the saying goes, “you are what you eat,” so it is quite possible that your daily outlook can be a product of your diet.

A cheery outlook can be attributed in part to serotonin. Serotonin is a mood enhancing chemical that is synthesized by the amino acid tryptophan, and is responsible for controlling anger, appetite, aggression, body temperature, sexuality, and metabolism. Additionally, foods which are high in tryptophan such as turkey, increase serotonin levels to induce sleep. For this reason it is one of the best natural sleep aids. Foods that are rich in serotonin include walnuts, poultry, eggs, milk and whole grain carbohydrates.

While the above mentioned foods are the most effective serotonin boosting foods, recent studies have shown that mood is also affected by fat.  British researchers have found that people who eat an extremely low fat diet are often grumpier and more hostile than those who eat a diet that is higher in fat.

Not all fat is treated equal though. Sources of fat that are not good for the body and mind include the drive-up window at any fast food restaurant. Instead, healthy sources of fat include the following: chocolate, fish, as well as foods rich in vitamins D and B. It is not uncommon for some energy drinks to also contain these essential vitamins.

Eating “good mood” foods is only part of the equation. Moderation and exercise are also important factors to the overall mood of and individual. It is important to not over-consume these foods as they may lead to weight gain. Some people who have trouble controlling their appetite have found hoodia pills a great source of appetite suppression.

Adequate sleep is fundamental for the body to perform properly. The importance of quality sleep is obvious for preventing various health issues but one of the most overlooked reasons why sleep is so valuable is because it can actually slow the rate at which the body ages.

While you sleep, your body has a chance to rejuvenate itself both mentally and physically. It can speed up healing of injuries or surgeries, increase weight-loss, boost immune function, and help to manage or reduce stress. These are all things that are very taxing on the body and when sleep deprivation occurs the body begins to fall apart from the inside out.

Key hormones are released during your sleep which helps to slow the aging process and repair cell damage. Between the hours of 11 and 1am your body produces human growth hormone (HGH). Insufficient sleep inhibits the production of growth hormone which ultimately leads to physical deterioration, emotional problems, and premature aging.

About 40% of Americans do not get enough sleep each night which increases more than just health or premature aging; it can also impair brain function during the day and increase the risk of accidents. In order to prevent these problems from occurring, you should try to get about 8 hours of quality rest each night. Studies show that sleeping less than 8 hours a night can begin wreaking havoc over a period of time.  Proper sleep can boost mood, encourage weight-loss, slow the aging process, reduce the stress hormone cortisol, and help to stabilize hunger and blood sugar levels in the body.

There is some truth to the saying “get your beauty sleep” as it can really help to keep you looking beautiful longer. Things to consider during the day that will help you achieve better rest are limiting the amount of alcohol or caffeine you consume and eating a well balanced diet packed with super foods like, berries, veggies, salmon, raw almonds, oatmeal, and lean sources of protein.

Narcolepsy is a very unusual sleep disorder that is characterized by random sleep attacks. This means that an individual may fall asleep at any given time of the day uncontrollably. These so called sleep attacks happen even after having a full nights rest and occur at any time of day. Falling asleep uncontrollably can affect many things such as social life, work, relationships, or school. It is considered to be a very unusual pattern and there are no specific times that these episodes take place which makes it very difficult for the person affected by it.

There are two forms of sleep that a person experiences at night. The first is called non rapid eye movement sleep (NREM) which is when there is no movement with your eyelids and the body is not in a deep slumber. This generally takes place before the second stage of sleep which is known as rapid eye movement sleep (REM). During this stage your eyelids move rapidly even though they are closed. In general this is the type of sleep that causes an individual to dream and relax their muscles.

People who suffer from narcolepsy generally don’t go through the NREM sleep stage but rather the REM stage first. Even though they are in the deep sleep stage they may be partially awake.

Because of the inability to control sudden sleep attacks, narcoleptics are prone to accidents, injuries, impaired concentration, depression, driving problems, or eating issues.

Currently, there is no cure for narcolepsy but certain lifestyle changes may help to improve the situation such as eating a healthy diet free of toxins and chemicals. It may be wise to determine if a food allergy is the cause by ruling out various food items. This can be done with the supervision of your physician. Another helpful approach may be to take scheduled naps during the day to see if it relieves some of the sudden drowsiness. Lastly, the use of conventional drugs may be helpful to some. In any case narcolepsy is a very serious sleep disorder that should be diagnosed and supervised by your physician.

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