01 Jul SLEEP
Do you have trouble falling asleep? Do you fall asleep but wake up in the middle of the night? Is your mind racing, your stomach growling, are your legs aching?
We know that Insominia comes in many different forms, but WHY can’t we sleep?
CAUSE #1 – Low Blood Sugar – when your blood sugar drops below appropriate levels for your blood chemistry there is not enough fuel to communicate to the brain important hormonal transmissions for sleep. Low blood sugar calls upon the adrenal glands to release hormones that elevate energy. The release of epinephrine, adrenaline and cortisol to elevate the low blood sugar is hormonally and chemically causing insomnia and restlessness.
SUGGESTION – Omit refined sugar foods throughout the day, specifically sugar foods in the PM hour. Consider eating a high protein, low glycemic snack before bed to balance the blood sugar while sleeping. Insomnia between 1-3am almost always qualifies as low blood sugar and liver handling problems. If you wake in the middle of the night consider a protein/fat/carb combination (ex:whole grain cracker with peanut butter) SUPPLEMENT TIP – Ultra Glucose Control before bed – This stages a stable blood sugar throughout the night.
CAUSE #2 – Adrenal (cortisol) hormonal Imbalance – If the cortisol released is too high you will be wired and unable to unwind. If your cortisol is too low you will be fatigued and lack energy at all times. Cortisol can secrete at night if your adrenal glands are imbalanced. This will wake you up chemically and also cause your blood sugar to drop.
SUGGESTION – Take the Identi-T Stress Questionnaire to evaluate your adrenal function. SUPPLEMENT TIP – TranQ or TranCor before bed will calm the mind and nervous system and get those running thoughts to settle down.
CAUSE # 3- Mineral Deficiencies – a lack of magnesium will cause insomnia. Magnesium is naturally tranquilizing to the muscles and the nervous system. Taking before bed will produce tranquility, relaxation, bowel movements and promote sleep.
SUPPLEMENT TIP – MagGlycinate 400-600mg before bed or as tolerated by bowel movements
CAUSE #4 – Imbalanced hormone levels – Progesterone that is too low will cause insomnia. If this is your issue, healthy sleep will not resume without the use of progesterone creams or bio-identical hormone therapy. Progesterone is naturally tranquilizing and if our levels are too low our bodies do not have the right hormonal response to induce sleep. Melatonin is a hormone secreted at night to produce sleep.
SUGGESTION – Talk with your physician about Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy to see if you can benefit. SUPPLEMENT TIP – Benesom or Melatonin and sleep herbs. Chasteberry Plus has a similar molecular structure as progesterone and you can try it but some people just need progesterone.
CAUSE #4 –Liver Congestion – 1:00am-3:00am is the “liver hour” where you liver regenerates. If you have a sluggish or congested liver than you are not releasing glycogen (stored sugar in the liver) at this time your blood sugar drops and you wake up often hungry or can’t sleep.
SUPPLEMENT TIP – AdvaClear -2 capsules before bed to support the liver and methylation phase 2
