Sleep 

• The regeneration and healing of our body and mind happens during sleep. It’s the time when our body release tensions, recharges and rests.  All of this rejuvenation actually only happens in the deep, dreamless state, also known as the delta state. A state that many of us don’t experience consistently.

• It is at this time that the subconscious takes over from the conscious  mind and repairs stress reactions of metabolism. The immune system receives a tremendous boost during these hours.

• Poor sleep also has an impact on our hormones and can increase estrogen levels.

• Adrenal fatigue has a tremendous impact on sleep. This past year (2018) my sleep quality started to seriously deteriorate due to stress. Once I started to supplement with stress reducing and adrenal building herbs (siberian ginseng), my sleep improved tremendously.

• Your exposure to light has a tremendous impact on the quality of your sleep. It is this exposure to sunlight which affects the amount of melatonin produced in the body.  Melatonin is a hormone which promotes calmness and is produced by the pineal gland and regulates the circadian rhythm.  It is only produced in the dark which is why being in front of a screen before going to bed can be so detrimental. Decreased melatonin levels may stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells.

• Spending time in the sun, watching the sunrise and sunset are wonderful ways to help regulate your sleep. Looking at the sun within the hour that it rises or sets is safe because the ultraviolet levels are at zero.

• Eating too close to bedtime stimulates the digestive system and organs and will reduce the quality of your sleep. If you generally eat late at night, try eating around 3 hours before going to bed. Experiment and see you feel. Eating earlier in the evenings will also affect how you wake up, ie. feeling rested and energized. Start to pay attention to your eating patterns in the evening and your sleep quality.