The Importance of Sleep

Posted by: Curt | Under: General Fitness | (0) Comments

We all know we need sleep to function effectively and most of use realize that we just don’t get enough of it. Part of the problem is our crazy schedules, but there are a lot of other factors involved. MSNBC has a good article on sleep that includes reasons we don’t sleep well and also tips for waking up and feeling good. Here are a couple of important things to remember-

• Snack yourself to sleep. Eating a small carbohydrate-heavy snack with a bit of protein one to two hours before bed will trigger your brain to produce the calming neurotransmitter serotonin, says New York City nutritionist Joy Bauer, author of “Joy Bauer’s Food Cures” (Rodale). Her favorite sleep inducers: a scoop of light ice cream with berries, or a rice cake with a slice of turkey or a teaspoon of peanut butter.
• Chill out (for real). Keeping your body cool at night signals it to fall into a deeper, more restful sleep, says psychiatrist Sara Mednick, author of “Take a Nap! Change Your Life” (Workman Publishing). Turn down the thermostat in your room to 68 degrees, she says.

I do both of these- I never go to bed hungry (although I never eat more than a small smack) and I keep the thermostat set at 67 in the winter. I have found that I always sleep better in the winter when the temps are cooler than in the summer when the AC is set at 78.

My favorite snack before bed is an oatmeal cookie with some peanut butter on it and a small glass of skim milk. Just enough to keep from being hungry and kick in the serotonin.