Bye, Bye Melatonin…
Ever wonder how people get to sleep without any extra help? Yeah, you and 50% of the global population. Getting to sleep, and staying asleep naturally might feel like one of those legends that only happen in fairytales and movies.
We’re here to tell you that it is possible, it’s just going to take a little bit of sacrifice, patience, and elbow grease on your end.
Here is how to fall asleep naturally, without the extra melatonin and diphenhydramine. (pssst…here’s a hint: check your fridge.)
Lace up and get outside.
Ever go on a beach day with your friends, and after being in the sun and playing in the waves, you get the best sleep of your life? There are two factors at play here, and none of them involve your sleepless night the day before.
Did you know that the sun can help to regulate your sleep cycle? Studies have shown that simply walking outside and getting some sun for a few minutes every day acts as a reset button for your sleep cycle. We’re not saying to go out and get fried to a crisp every day; all you need is a few minutes in direct sunlight, just don’t forget your sunscreen.
It isn’t just the sun that sent you snoring on the car ride home that day, it was also the exercise. We’re about to sound like a broken record, and we know you’ve likely heard this before, but even a brisk walk around the block is enough to help you sleep at night. One thing to note, at least for most people, is that exercise too late at night can actually keep you awake, versus earlier in the day.
There’s an idea! Instead of drinking that fifth cup of coffee, take those new running shoes for a spin first thing in the morning or at the midday slump.
Change it up.
Food plays a major role in our hormone levels and generally, how we feel throughout the day. When it comes to your food sensitivities, this can be like drinking an energy drink before bed minus the caffeine buzz.
When we eat foods that our bodies aren’t able to digest properly, it can cause inflammation as our bodies try to fight foreign objects. Fighting bodies means fluctuating hormone levels and terrible quality sleep.
Without addressing the underlying issue, we end up reaching for over-caffeinated energy drinks to give us the boost we need to function.
Speaking of energy drinks…
Energy drinks may feel like a convenient alternative to your morning cup of coffee, but when you consider the sugar content in energy drinks, you end up with a double whammy of ingredients that are taking you on an involuntary rollercoaster ride of wired and crashing. Especially if you have a food sensitivity to caffeine or artificial sweeteners.
The real issue with supplementing energy like this isn’t that it makes your heart race or sends you crash landing into regret land, it’s that you are putting yourself through an endless cycle of supplementation, never knowing if you’re being triggered by one of the many ingredients.
Think about it: you wake up and reach for the coffee, the 3 pm slump hits and you reach for the energy drink. By the time your head hits the pillow in the wee hours of the morning, you’re left with no choice but to take a shot of diphenhydramine and pop a melatonin gummy or two.
When your alarm clock rings five hours later, you’re right back to where you started.
Here’s an idea...
Maybe the real reason why you can’t fall asleep at night has nothing to do with your ridiculous work schedule or the stresses of everyday life. It could be as simple as a food sensitivity that is sending your body into Rambo levels of fight or flight.
It’s time for you to get the best sleep of your life. Speak with one of our food sensitivity experts and see if something you are eating could be the culprit behind your sleep troubles. After all, the power of knowing beats the sleepless nights of guessing.
Free yourself of the melatonin-diphenhydramine shackles and finally get a good night’s sleep…naturally.
