Sleep, Oh Precious Sleep
25 02 2008It never fails. I start to eat right, get my water in, and what do you know…. insomnia gone. Ahhh… This past weekend I felt like I slept more soundly than I ever did before. It was amazing, and I got in as much of it as I could. It’s amazing how not eating well and eating too much keeps me from sleeping. The funny thing is that I’ve never read anywhere where the 2 are linked.
Do any of you have trouble sleeping if you’re not eating well, or have you noticed that you sleep better OP?
Sweet dreams…
I sleep better on program, because to me that means I have had lots of water, I’ve exercised and I’ve eaten mostly healthy foods. Before Christmas I was tossing and turning and would wake with a sore back. In just the two months since then I have, mostly, slept very soundly at night and wake up feeling as rested as one can feel when they get up at 5 AM LOL
I hadn’t thought of it that way until I read your post. Thank you.
~~jolie~~
Hi! I love reading your blog. I wanted to comment to tell you that are correct, drinking more water and eating well improves your sleep. Here is an excerpt from TIRED ALL THE TIME? by PATRICIA MASON WOODS. Essence. Dec 2000 v31 i8 p74. Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2000 Essence Communications, Inc.
(The article is about causes of people feeling lethargic, or not sleeping well)
DEHYDRATION: You’re tired because your heart’s working harder. About 60 percent of your body weight is water–and you’re losing it all the time. Water is excreted constantly through breathing, sweating, skin evaporation and waste elimination. But losing just 2 to 3 percent of water weight can cause dehydration, and even a mild case thickens the blood. That not only forces the heart to pump harder to get blood and oxygen to your organs and muscles, but it also makes it harder to get nutrients to the cells and flush toxins out of the body. No wonder you feel tired.
The solution: Hit the bottle. Drink eight to 12 glasses of water daily–more when you’re exercising or taking medications. Also cut down on coffee, cola and alcoholic drinks; they cause more frequent urination and thus a loss of body fluids.
POOR NUTRITION: You’re not eating for consistent energy. Yes, carbohydrates give you energy, but which ones you eat make the difference in how long your energy lasts, says Singleton. Simple carbohydrates (white bread, sugar, jam, juice) boost your energy in minutes, but the feeling lades within an hour or two because the glucose they provide burns quickly and provides little nourishment. Singleton says complex carbohydrates take longer to convert into glucose, thus supplying longer-lasting, steadier energy–as well as essential, nourishing nutrients.
Banish tiredness with Singleton’s prescription: Eat a well-balanced diet with complex carbs like fresh fruits and vegetables, brown rice and beans. A little protein (salmon, tuna or lean meats) helps prolong energy levels, increase alertness and counteract the effects of serotonin, a brain chemical that brings your mood down. Take a multivitamin daily to cover all your bases.
—
Their suggestion is basically WW in a nutshell. I’m glad you are sleeping better! Your body repairs itself when you sleep, so it is best to get the best sleep you can!