Sleep Health

“Sleep Health”

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Having trouble sleeping? You’re not alone. Many people suffer from such sleeping disorders as insomnia and irregular sleeping patterns. Lack of sleep can have several negative mental and physical effects. For example, studies have shown that lack of sleep is related to increased levels of stress and increased weight gain. So why can other people sleep through the night and you can’t? Your diet could be the answer.

Research is saying that certain nutrients create better sleeping patterns. The study also showed that people who ate a diet with more variety tended to have healthier sleeping patterns. The reason behind this is clear. The more variety in your diet the more exposure you have to not just different nutrients, but more nutrients over all. Having so many nutrients allows the body to perform at its full potential which transfers into better overall health including healthier sleeping patterns.

So what disorders or conditions can exactly arise from lack of sleep? People who slept less than seven hours had an increased risk of conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity. However, there is such a thing as too much sleep. The study also found that people who slept more than nine hours were more prone to depression. So to have the best sleep health it is advised to find some middle ground, not much sleep and definitely not too little.

The study identified five nutrients that lead to great sleep health:

Lycopene: found in foods such as tomatoes, watermelon and pink grape fruit this nutrient is antioxidant that fights against cancer.

Vitamin C: strawberries and kiwis are where you will find this antioxidant that protects your heart and fights cancer.

Selenium: tuna and Brazilian nuts are great sources of this anti-inflammatory nutrient that plays a role in immune function.

Theobromine: a phytochemical that can be found in tea and chocolate.

Lauricacid: found in coconut oil and improves cholesterol.

Often, it easy to forget how what we eat connects to other activities in our lives. Sleep health may not be the first thing people think of when they sit down for a meal, but the research is there to prove it. That fresh green apple for breakfast could lead to eight hours of blissful sleep.