Natural remedies that will help you sleep better

Tossing and turning through the night can leave you grumpy and on edge the next day. And bouts of insomnia, when you’re wide awake for hours at a time when your body by rights should be sleeping, can take their toll.

Lack of sleep has serious consequences – far more serious than low energy and being short-tempered. 

Chronic sleep deprivation can set you up for cancer, heart attack and stroke. That’s because sleep plays a significant role in how our body works and protects us from illness.

The next health epidemic? Sleep deprivation

When was the last time you had a deep, restful sleep? If you can’t remember, you’re not alone. Sleep deprivation has become something of an epidemic. And it’s no wonder I’m often asked about herbal sleep remedies or other natural remedies for better sleep.

The recommended seven to eight hours of sleep every night is just not happening for a lot of us. More than 35 percent of adults in the United States reported getting less than seven hours of sleep a night, to the according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); 38 percent reported unintentionally falling asleep at least once during the day in the preceding month.

Spread out over a year, this lack of sleep is the equivalent of losing a month-and-a-half of sleep. It gets worse.

About 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders, the CDC estimates. There are 90 different sleep disorders characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, and abnormal events occurring during sleep. 

Middle-aged people – between the ages of 45 to 64 – suffer insomnia the most, along with people who are morbidly obese, which can trigger sleep apnea, where you temporarily stop breathing, especially during sleep.

Natural sleep remedies are safe and effective

There are all kinds of over-the-counter and prescription sleep aids to get you drowsy and sleeping through the night. 

But I’m an advocate for natural remedies and lifestyle changes that can be equally as effective – without the addictive properties or harsh side effects of pills. 

Give these tips for better sleep a try, and see if you can get the sleep your body needs.

Valerian root supplement

Valerian itself is a hardy plant whose roots are used in a number of ways as a sedative. Clinical studies have shown that valerian root supplement helps improve the quality of sleep, and acts as a potent sleep aid.

You can buy dried valerian root, put it into a tea ball and brew up a cup of tea, making sure to cover it and let it steep for a good 15 minute. 

Then uncover, remove your strainer or tea ball and drink. Add a little milk or honey for flavor. You might find the odor too strong, so it’s also available in capsule form.

Cherry juice for better sleep

Another great natural sedative is cherry juice, the tart, 100 percent juice option – not one with added sweeteners and other fruit concentrates added in. You need the good stuff to get results.

Try a ½ cup of tart cherry juice as a pleasant way to drift off to sleep. The juice works as a natural sleep aid because it contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid that coverts to serotonin, which then coverts to melatonin. You’ve likely heard a lot about melatonin and its connection to sleep. It’s also known as the “vampire hormone” – it gets released in darkness, but light can interfere with its production (even artificial light), so you want to make sure your bedroom is nice and dark.

Melatonin causes drowsiness and lowers body temperature, working with the central nervous system to sync our biological clock, giving us the sleep we need.

Stay cool and calm

Your body needs to cool down during sleep. As a part of your good sleep hygiene habits, keep your room temperature on the cool side (between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit) and be sure to avoid electric blankets, duvets and even central heating, which can all disrupt your sleep patterns.

Include physical activity in your daily routine

Regular physical activity is essential for your overall health and your sleep. If you exercise too close to bedtime, and this tends to be habit for you, you might be too energized to fall asleep. So try working out earlier in the day. Guaranteed, regular walking or other boost-your-heart-rate activity gets your blood flowing and, at the end of the day, helps you fall asleep faster and will deepen your sleep.

Follow a bedtime ritual

In order to tell your body it’s time to wind down, do the exact same things every night. This means taking a warm bath or shower, reading a book or listening to relaxing music – all while keeping the lights dimmed. 

These types of activities promote better sleep simply by making the transition between wakefulness and drowsiness much easier.

Your bedroom is not the place to watch TV at night! Remove all business and educational materials, personal computer devices and televisions from your sleeping environment. 

Research suggests they significantly disrupt your sleep.

With all these in mind, drifting off should become easier and more enjoyable. 

You won’t be tossing and turning – and disturbing your partner. 

You’ll get the restorative rest you need, letting your immune system kick in to repair all the stress and activity of the day’s events, leaving you ready for an energized tomorrow