Sleep Supplements – Part 2

Have you ever had a sleep hangover? I don’t know, maybe you’ve never heard of a sleep hangover. I think it might be a term I’ve coined. But let me tell you what it is to me. Years ago, when I was really struggling with sleep, I actually would wake up the next morning and almost feel hung over. My stomach didn’t feel good. I was a little bit head-achy. I was definitely sluggish. I looked like 💩. And I just felt like I had a hangover, even though like the night before, I hadn’t drunk anything. I’m wondering, have you ever had a sleep hangover? If you say yes, is it not the most frustrating thing? For me sleep was such an elusive thing. And I just didn’t want to take sleeping pills seven to eight hours of sleep.

I want to continue our talk about sleep supplements. What you add to your diet can help you get a much better night’s sleep. I am a huge fan of getting your nutrients and your supplements from food, but, it is so very difficult in these very modern, industrialized, commercialized times where commercial farming has really stripped so much of our soil of minerals and nutrients so vital to make our food the healthiest it can be. Additionally, if you are on any medications, please, consult your doctor before adding any additional supplements to make sure there’s no interaction. And I strongly, strongly, strongly encourage you, that if you are on prescription medication, also ask your doctor if the medication you’re on has side effects of actually stripping nutrients from your body. I think that’s so vital and so important. Many of us don’t think to ask our doctors that question. 

Today we’re focusing on various supplements and minerals that you can take to really benefit your sleep. 

1. Calcium: Calcium is good for your bones, but, it’s also a natural relaxant. It calms our nervous system and helps us sleep better. And it is actually one of the minerals needed so that our nervous system is functioning properly.  And always remember that calcium should be taken with potassium and magnesium because it’s the potassium and magnesium that’s going to help your body absorb it.  
2. Magnesium: I am a big magnesium fan. I take magnesium glycinate every night before I go to bed. I swear by it. It works so well to help you sleep. Now, one of the reasons that magnesium is important for helping us get to sleep is magnesium has been shown to actually be linked to melatonin. Magnesium is also very calming. It helps us reduce our stress. 
3. Zinc: Zinc deficiency has actually been linked to increased cases of insomnia. Plus, zinc is awesome for the immune system. 
4. Vitamin D: Vitamin D is a mood regulator. It supports immune function. It aids in keeping our biological clock and our sleep cycles in check.
5. CBD:  CBD is derived from the hemp plant, not the marijuana plant. And, it’s the portion that’s not going to get you high. So, you’re not going to be waking up in the middle of the night craving a Twinkie. CBD does have a calming effect. So, it’s a natural sleep booster. 
6. Melatonin: Melatonin is the key that starts the engine of our sleep. It’s a sleep regulator, not a sleep initiator. It also shortens the time it takes to fall asleep. It also increases REM sleep. Melatonin helps increase length of sleep.