Why can’t I sleep? There could be a number of reasons – hormonal disruption, preparation before bed, lack of exercise, eating too late, skipping meals, eating processed foods, and/or relying on stimulants.
Sleep deprivation can alter mood, cognitive functions, and the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), Alarms may be set off within the endocrine system, which may increase cortisol & glucose levels at the wrong times, as well as affect appetite regulators. Getting your melatonin and cortisol levels properly calibrated is critical since we heal & recover when we sleep.
Whatever the reason, finding the root cause could mean the difference between thriving or just surviving. But I am here to say that improved sleep is possible.
Here are some suggestions for preparing your body for a good night sleep which will ensure that your natural circadian rhythm is ignited as intended:
-Removing highly processed foods, as they are known to cause inflammation, decrease oxygen & flood the body with unwanted toxins which causes disruption in the body.
– Increase your intake of organic, nutrient dense foods. This will flood your body with minerals & vitamins needed to keep your hormones in alignment, as well as foods rich in magnesium: Organic green leafy vegetables, whole grains, avocado, beans, nuts & bananas …
– Shut the TV & cell off. Blue light disrupts the circadian rhythm. Dim the alarm clock.
– Sleep in a cool room. – Minimize distractions throughout the night to allow for REM cycles (needed for restoration & healing).
– Watch the sun rise set, as it resets your circadian rhythm. – Herbal remedies & supportive supplements can help, however you do need to get to the root cause.
– Eat earlier in the evening; sleep on an empty stomach.
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