The Natural Sleep Aid Blog

How to Dress to Look 10 Pounds Lighter

Adding a few staple clothing pieces to the wardrobe can instantly take 10 pounds off your frame without even going to the gym. Changing the way you dress can make it look like you have spent hours at the gym without even breaking a sweat.

Gone are the days of dressing all in black and baggy clothes to hide figure flaws. Contrary to what was thought in the past, dressing in loose fitting clothes can actually create the illusion of looking bigger than one actually is. Follow the next tips to look ten pounds lighter instantly.

1.       Find the right cut of clothing. Finding clothes with a flattering cut and form to them will actually flatter your frame. The right cut of clothes can actually slenderize certain problem parts of the body such as the butt, hips and thighs.

2.       Tailor clothes. Investing in having clothes made to fit your frame can help you look thinner. Hemming pants and shirts to the proper length as well as taking in the sides can help you look slim and trim.

3.       Watch patterns. Picking the right pattern that is flattering can be tricky but it makes all the difference. Big and loud patterns can present the illusion of being bigger than one actually is. Putting on a shirt with an unflattering pattern may leave one to reach for the fat pills, when all that is needed is a different shirt.

4.       Get enough rest. Nothing can age us more than missing a good night’s rest. It is important to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night to look as youthful and fit as possible. If you have trouble falling asleep on your own, the use of natural sleep aids can ensure a good night’s rest.

Finally, when you feel and look good, it shows. Ever notice how certain clothes make you feel more confident and assured? This also has an additional subliminal positive effect on the mind in that that confidence leads to walking and standing taller which will also make you look thinner.

Fact: Heart disease is the number one cause of death for men and women in the United States. Fact: the risk of suffering from heart disease can be dramatically reduced through healthy habits, diet and exercise.  It is a real eye opener to realize that many people are victims of heart disease and that most of this heart disease is preventable with proactive measures.

Step 1 in preventing heart disease is to eat a healthy diet. Eliminating trans and saturated fats is critical to maintaining a healthy cholesterol level. Trans and saturated fats are responsible for increasing overall cholesterol in particular raising levels of LDL cholesterol or bad cholesterol. Making the switch to mono and polyunsaturated fats can actually lower overall cholesterol and raise levels of HDL, or good cholesterol.  This can be done very easily by cutting out butter and solid fats and replacing them with vegetable, seed and olive oils.

Step 2 for heart disease prevention is to quit smoking and using tobacco products. This is especially true if you are a women and taking birth control pills. Smoking causes the arties to narrow which in turn puts more stress on the heart. There is good news for smokers though, as soon as a person stops smoking, the body is able to begin to recover almost immediately.  While the effects of smoking for years cannot all be undone, the body has a remarkable ability to overcome the abuse that it was put through.

Step 3; incorporate physical activity into daily routines. Getting and staying physically active builds a strong and healthy heart. A strong and healthy heart can pump blood more efficiently through arteries.  Less stress on the heart equals a happy and healthy heart.

Step 4 Watch your weight. While we cannot all look like a super model, being a healthy weight is necessary for the best life possible. Some weight loss tips for people who are overweight are to start exercising. Some online diet sources recommend hoodia gordonii  for appetite suppression and weight loss. Weight can also be affected by sleep. Not getting enough sleep can cause stress on the heart. Some natural sleep aids can ensure a good nights rest which will help curb unhealthy cravings.

Step 5 Get regular exams. Finally staying on top of heart disease requires regular exams. Prevention is the best medicine, and staying ahead of the game is the best way to beat heart disease.

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.

Almost synonymous for the word turkey, tryptophan is as Thanksgiving as pumpkin pie. Said to be responsible for the entire couch -napping male population after Thanksgiving dinner, tryptophan affects the levels of serotonin in the brain, inducing a feeling of sleepiness.

So what exactly is it about tryptophan that brings on slumber? The answer lies in the chemical composition of tryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that the body needs, and could be found in foods rich in protein content such as poultry, eggs, chocolate, and cheeses. Being an essential amino acid means that it is critical to health and body function; however it is not an amino acid that the body can make on its own. For this reason, food is the only source of this dietary staple, and turkey is an excellent source of it.

Tryptophan also shows promise as an effective anti-depressant and well as PMS aid.  Serotonin, a hormone that causes a feeling of calm and peace is increased in the presence of tryptophan.  This increased level of serotonin induces sleepiness.  It is considered by some as one of the greatest natural sleep aids.  

While tryptophan is a promoter of sleep, often the sleep that results from Turkey Day over- indulgence is from over-loading on carbohydrates and alcohol. Portion control and loading up on vegetables as opposed to stuffing are the best weight loss tips for Thanksgiving.

Remembering that the best way to lose weight is through diet and exercise, taking a long walk outside with family and friends after dinner is a great way to bond and work off that extra slice of pie!

More than ten million Americans suffer from depression each year. Some may experience symptoms that last only a few days or weeks to periods of six months or more. A common occurrence is winter time depression or seasonal depression. Seasonal depression occurs in the winter time and results from the persistent gloominess that sets in with the onset of longer nights, colder weather and the confinement to indoor spaces. The mood that one feels can be directly linked to the chemistry in the brain. Any imbalance of chemicals can cause a type of any number of types of depression.

A common chemical imbalance that causes depression is the low levels of certain neurotransmitters — particularly serotonin and norepinephrine.  Due to the fact that serotonin is linked to B-complex vitamins, increasing B vitamins into the system, particularly vitamins B6 and B12 help to overcome feelings of paranoia, violence and depression.

Increasing B vitamins in the diet can help to overcome winter time depression. Besides foods that are rich in these vitamins such as eggs, bananas, liver, cheeses and wheat germ, many herbal remedies, such as St. John’s Wort, can also be beneficial. Getting outside and moving around will also help to take the mind off the fact that the weather is gloomy.

Other solutions that those who suffer from seasonal depression have found beneficial are natural sleep aids.  Depression tends to not only affect the mood; it also can disrupt sleep cycles and diet as well. With seasonal depression, it is not uncommon to sleep for countless hours or conversely, not sleep at all.

How depression effects an individual can very from case to case. Some people may lose weight as a result of not eating, while others eat excessively. Weight loss tips for those who have put on weight involve getting off the couch. Getting the blood circulating is the best way to feel good and energized.

While we all suffer from a restless night of sleep now and again, insomnia is a condition that people suffer from when they do not get enough sleep, or have difficulty staying asleep over a long period of time. Since sleep is a vital function to maintain health both mentally and physically, those who suffer from insomnia need to seek treatment for their condition. As studies indicate sleep deprivation and reaction time are related, therefore depriving the body of rest can be harmful to oneself and others.

There are two types of insomnia: acute and chronic. Each of these types will be explored in the following paragraphs.

Acute insomnia is when an individual suffers from insomnia over a short period of time. These symptoms can occur for a variety of reasons of which include stress, diet, depression, medication or change in daily routine. Chronic insomnia on the other hand is when sleepless symptoms occur over long periods of time.

There methods that can help combat against insomnia, these include natural sleep aids. Natural sleep aids do not contain any addictive ingredients that can disrupt other body functions or lead to dependency.

Adopting better bed time habits can also alleviate the symptoms of insomnia. Creating a cool and comfortable environment that promotes sleep is vital to getting the best sleep possible. Additionally,  turning to herbal remedies , such as lavender can help induce a peaceful and complete sleep.

Extreme cases of insomnia may require the participation in a sleep study as the cause of insomnia may be related to other medical conditions.

Chances are that when scanning radio stations in your car, you have already come across at least one station that is playing holiday music. This may be a very bittersweet experience in that the holidays are approaching and that it calls awareness to the fact that it is time to lose a few extra pounds that have managed to sneak on recently. While it is close to Thanksgiving, there is still ample time to look great in that new holiday dress. Following the listed recommendations will ensure a slimmer and sexier you in time for the holiday season.

1. Cut calories: by cutting calories by 500 a day, one can lose a pound a week. This can be achieved by simply cutting out a daily latte or rich snack. These snacks are often loaded with calories which can be devastating to a diet. If you always feel hungry, an appetite suppressant such as Hoodia Gordonii can help suppress cravings.
2. Hit the gym: adding exercise to your daily routine is a great way to reduce stress not to mention shed a few pounds. Since the weather is not as outdoor friendly in the winter as it is in the summer, since the gym is inside, there is no reason not to go.  Additionally, hitting the gym will help to build a stronger heart and body. Even the best diet pills can not provide the cardiovascular and stress reducing benefits a half hour at the gym can.
3. Get enough rest: Not getting enough sleep can actually backfire on you. Sleep deprivation is actually a reason that some people gain weight! Try taking a natural sleep aid for restless nights. Doing so will help to keep weight at bay an provide an increase in energy to check off everything on the to-do list.

Are those nights of restless tossing and turning becoming more and more frequent? Everyone has nights when they just can’t seem to get to sleep; stresses from work, kids and life in general can leave you with sleep deprivation.  The average human being will spend one third of their life sleeping and that should be a time of recovery and relaxation. Unfortunately, that is not the case for most adults and we turn to medicinal sleep aides as a way to get more restful sleep. (more…)

Supported with statistical data, turning back the clock one hour this weekend may reduce the number of heart attacks Americans will suffer in the following week.  As covered on the Today Show, studies conducted by Swedish researchers point out the fact that there are approximately 5% fewer heart attacks on the Monday following the gain in an additional hour of sleep.

Sleep is a vital event that is necessary for our bodies to be healthy. Depriving ourselves of sleep takes a toll on our overall health.  More than just bags under our eyes, sleep deprivation also takes a toll on our systems. Everything from a weakened immune system to compromised cardiovascular systems, our bodies pay the price. While it may be difficult to always obtain the optimal 8 hours of sleep each night, there are many sleep aids that can help.  Natural sleep aids and store bought sleep aids are not treated equal though. Be aware of anything that can be addiction forming.

Sleep deprivation and reaction time  also have a strong correlation.  Studies show that the deprivation of sleep dramatically reduces our alertness and slows down our reaction time. There is nothing worse than a sleep deprived driver. Take these statistics for example, in 1998, 24,318 deaths were cited from accidents related to sleep deprivation in the US. There were as well 2,474,430 disabling injuries resulting from accidents where decreased mental efficiency and attentiveness due to sleep loss as the major causative factor (Health Guidance).  (more…)

Sleeping pills have become quite popular as a way to treat insomnia and other sleep disorders. Today, they are prescribed frequently by physicians as a solution to a good nights rest. But what about the long-term side affects of these drugs? For the occasional user it may not be a health threat but for the chronic user there are several things to think about before popping the next Ambien, Lunesta, Rozerem, or Sonata. The following is a list of reasons why you should limit or abstain from the use of sleeping pills.

1.    Sleeping pills are highly addictive very much in the way barbiturates are.

2.    They create a dependency much like alcohol and lower inhibitions like pain and fear.

3.    Sleeping pills can cause asphyxiation.

4.    They can create a long-term chemical dependency.

5.    They can affect short tem memory over time and reduce brain cell activity and cognitive thinking.

6.    They can create a hangover affect the following day and impair memory, judgment, and consciousness.

7.    Can cause sleep driving, anaphylaxis, facial swelling and unnecessary eating in your sleep.

8.    When mixed with other prescription drugs, supplements, or alcohol they can be a deadly concoction without warning.

Many people are becoming aware of the dangers of sleeping pills and how life threatening they are. It is actually wise not to use them if you suffer from insomnia because the side effects alone are worse than the lack of sleep itself. With more and more warnings being put out by the FDA on the use of these popular pills people are beginning to look elsewhere for a better nights sleep.

The use of alternative sleep aids or lifestyle changes can assist in a good nights rest without becoming chemically dependant on a substance.  Some healthier choices to opt for are melatonin, calcium and magnesium, or sleep formulas that contain calming herbs. Making certain lifestyle changes to reduce stress such as exercising, taking hot baths, getting massages, reading, listening to calming music, taking regular naps, and reducing alcohol and caffeine consumption can greatly impact the way you sleep at night.

If lack of sleep persists, talk to a physician who can offer alternative options. Sometimes sleeping issues can arise during various stages of life in response to stress, hormone changes, or hectic schedules. If you simply take the time to recognize this problem and make it a priority to fix, then you can achieve adequate rest.