Why Is Sleep the Best Medicine?

If you suffer from insomnia chronically, it can affect your gut health because gut and brain communication is bi-directional, it can also increase the stress hormone cortisol level, which contributes to chronic inflammation that increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
 
The glymphatic system is a waste collector that picks up toxins and waste in your brain and nervous system. This housekeeping system works best during your sleep, which makes sleep the perfect time for brain detoxification. One of the most important waste products that your glymphatic system helps to remove is the beta-amyloid proteins. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, beta-amyloid proteins play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, your sleep quality is linked to the risk of Alzheimer’s. When you have good sleep, the glymphatic system helps detoxify beta-amyloid proteins and other waste and slows down brain aging.
 
Improving your deep sleep is very important for brain detoxification, cognitive and neurological health, reducing inflammation, cellular rejuvenation, boosting your energy levels, and improving your immunity and overall health. Researchers have found that shift workers who have to adjust their sleep cycles experience more disturbed sleep and also have an increased risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. REM sleep is critical for deep cleansing of your brain, balancing your emotions, and boosting your mental health.
 
Today, I am going to introduce two simple remedies to boost your sleep quality. We have five senses, but many of us overlooked the amazing healing power of smell. You can make a small herbal pillow beside your bed that can induce deep and restful sleep.
 
Here are the recipes for your sleep pillow:
Ingredients:
2 teaspoons of lemon balm
2 teaspoons of rose petals
2 teaspoons of lavender
2 teaspoons of camomile
1 teaspoon of dill seeds
 
Recipe for babies:
2 handfuls of camomile
1 teaspoon of dill seeds
 
Method:
Mix everything and put them in a small bag. Place it next to your pillow or under your pillowcase. You will find yourself drifting to sleep easily with these soothing scents.
 
Many of us have been using nutmeg as a spice in the kitchen. Did you know that nutmeg helps induce deep sleep? Nutmeg and poppy seeds are great sleep remedies, nutmeg takes about four hours to induce sleep and California poppy seeds work in 15 minutes, this two combining together can increase your sleep duration and quality. You will need to take the nutmeg four hours before your sleep to maximize its effects. The best way to take nutmeg is to crush a whole nutmeg before taking it, you can take half of it with a glass of water. Poppy seeds are also great for hair and skin, they benefit your heart and digestion too.
 
Here are some amazing health benefits of nutmeg:

• Enhances digestion and reduces diarrhea.
• Improves sleep quality and relieves insomnia.
• Relieves joint pain and muscle spasms due to its powerful anti-inflammatory properties.
• Stimulates the brain’s nerve cells, lifts mood, and reduces stress.
• Helps eliminate toxins in the body, boosts metabolism, and promotes weight loss.
• Nutmeg is rich in myrislignan which helps treat liver inflammations.
• Enhances the circulation of blood, regulates blood pressure, and reduces high cholesterol.
   

I hope you enjoy the information; I will give a presentation at “Know Your Service Provider” on Dec.1^st in Nanaimo about how nutrition plays a role in your sleep. Please check my poster below for more details. I am looking forward to meeting you there.