By Christine Cheng, R.Ph. and Fred Cheng, R.Ph.
Sleep. For many of us, that is easier said than done. But everyone needs sleep. No matter how much coffee or Red Bull you drink, there comes a time when your body just needs to crash. The reason is that your body needs this down-time to reorganize, purge, and detoxify. For example, your energy stores need to be replenished, the toxins built-up in your brain and nerves during the day need to be cleared, brain pathways from the day’s learning need to be sorted and reinforced.
So, how can we get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep a night? First off, establish a healthy, well-rounded diet and lifestyle, as well as practice proper sleep hygiene, which includes keeping a regular wake and sleep pattern, avoiding stimulants (e.g. caffeine, nicotine, alcohol) too close to bedtime, exercising during the day, allowing for enough relaxation time before bedtime, reserving your bed just for sleeping, and avoiding daytime naps. Supplements can be just as effective as prescription sleep medications; either should be tried only if you are still unable to get restful sleep.
“SLEEP-GREAT” from Healthology is a complete formulation that can help you fall asleep quickly, stay asleep, and achieve deep, restful sleep. Its ingredients include melatonin, l-theanine, l-tryptophan and valerian to induce drowsiness, i.e., to help with falling sleep. Often, if we are feeling stressed and/or anxious, it does not matter how tired we are; the brain just will not “shut off”. This is why “Sleep-Great” includes Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain to take advantage of its ability to promote feelings of calm and relaxation. Loquat fruit, Passionflower and Skullcap are also included to help increase GABA levels in the brain and activate GABA receptors, thus allowing your body to finally fall asleep. GABA can also improve the quality of sleep by regulating both NREM and REM deep-sleep states. There seems to be a synergy between the ingredients that makes “Sleep-Great” such an effective product. The suggested dosage is just 1 or 2 capsules a night and can be used for up to 4 weeks at a time. Make sure you speak with your healthcare provider if you are already on other medications (e.g., for blood pressure, anti-seizure, sedating medications, and/or anti-depressants).
Buy Healthology Sleep-Great online HERE
Just one bad night of sleep could affect your memory, give you a “fatigued look”, increase your chances of catching a cold, and make you more emotional and irritable. Chronic lack of sleep could give you bloodshot eyes, obesity, increased stroke risk, increased rate of diabetes, alteration of genes, even increase the risk of certain types of cancer. So, it is imperative to get your sleep under control as soon as possible. Come speak with one of our Integrative Pharmacists to see how you can also Sleep Great!
Christine and Fred Cheng are a passionate, charismatic sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique, family-operated Pharmasave stores in Cloverdale and Steveston, B.C. They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use. Find them on Instagram and Facebook! Everything mentioned in their article is available InStore.
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