Nutritional Approaches & Remedies for Insomnia

Taking a long look at your nutritional habits, and improving them, is a good first step in combating insomnia. Without proper nutrition and healthy blood sugar levels, our bodies can react to keep us up at night. If nutrition seems to be the major factor or even a minor contributor in your insomnia, changing what you eat, and when you eat it, can be a vital step in the right direction.

The most important meal of the day is breakfast. For people with blood sugar issues it is even more critical. Since blood sugar levels affect how our bodies react to fasting while we sleep, following a diet that incorporates eating good, healthy foods more often can help us sleep more soundly. Breakfast should never be skipped but also should not be primarily carbohydrates. A more protein-laden breakfast such as a protein shake can get the day started on the right note. You should avoid soda, candy, coffee and fruit juice. Snack every two to three hours on low glycemic foods such as seeds, nuts, vegetables or hard boiled eggs. Eating often while incorporating these foods allows the adrenals (which may be what is waking you up) some time off to recover.

In addition, nutritional supplements like a multi-vitamin can have a marked impact on the dysfunctional patterns produced in the adrenal system. The introduction of more raw vegetables and fruit into your diet is essential to this lifestyle change. Hydration is always important to the well-functioning human body. We need plenty of water and skipping over water for sugar filled drinks is especially harmful.

There is so much scientific evidence these days that emphasize the importance of good fats in our lives while reducing or eliminating bad fats. Good fats like fish oils found in salmon or sardines, olive oil and the oils in naturally roasted or raw nuts can help the body function like a well \"oiled\" machine. There are also supplements containing fish oils and other supplements if you find it difficult to incorporate enough into your diet. Speaking to a holistic professional about nutrition will offer you more options to help change your nutritional intake.

As with any diet or lifestyle change, finding ways to include fruit and raw vegetables is always good. There is no food available that pound for pound packs a vitamin punch like raw vegetables. There are clever ways to sneak in your five servings and your body will thank you for it. Keeping fresh, clean, cut carrot or celery sticks in the refrigerator ready to eat gives you something to crunch on and is great for blood sugar regulation. Lots of green, leafy salads with healthy dressings can be a fulfilling snack or lunch item. While it may seem difficult at first to eat six times a day, if the result is restful sleep it will be worth it.

2007, Kathy Burns-Millyard. Kathy is a professional published freelance writer and commercial stock photographer living in Southeast New Mexico USA. Visit ElectronicPerceptions.com to see some of her latest photography, and to read more of her excellent content too.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, October 18th, 2008 at 3:08 am and is filed under Sleep Apnea Snoring . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.