Are You Burned Out And Tired?

Market research shows that featured Americans aged 25 to 45 are subsisting on less than 7 hours of sleep per night, surviving on caffeine packed energy drinks and sleeping pills.

This generation is known as Generation Z. The over stimulated and burned out generation.

The health implications of this behavior are just becoming known and include an increase in domestic violence, traffic accidents, obesity and stress.

Below are some alternative remedies to improve sleep quality and energy levels.

5 HTP

5 HTP (5 hydroxytryptophan) is a compound produced by the body from tryptophan. It is naturally found in many foods and most commonly extracted from the seeds of the Griffonia plant.

In Europe, 5 HTP has been used for decades as an approved treatment for depression, sleep problems, weight loss, and other medical complaints. It is now starting to be used in the USA.

Clinical trials show that 5 HTP is a safe, natural way to boost the brain serotonin levels. Use of 5 HTP has been shown to produce results equal to or better than those of standard synthetic drugs used in the problems arising from serotonin deficiency syndrome.

5 HTP provides the quickest, most effective, and most consistent overall results in treating insomnia. It is an effective alternative for dealing with sleep problems in a safe and natural way compared to sleep medicines. 5 HTP improves the quality of sleep. More importantly, clinical studies show that 5 HTP is also useful in the treatment of sleep disorders other than insomnia.

5 HTP increases REM sleep significantly (typically by about 25 percent) while simultaneously increasing deep sleep stages 3 and 4 without increasing total sleep time. 5 HTP accomplishes this by shortening the amount of time you spend in sleep stages 1 and 2, which in certain ways are the least important stages of the cycle. The higher the dose, the more time spent in REM.

By shifting the balance of the sleep cycle, 5 HTP makes sleep more restful and rejuvenating. Instead of waking feeling tired, worn out, and hung over, people taking 5 HTP feel vibrant, well rested, and ready to take on the challenges of the day.

The impact of 5 HTP on sleep stages is dose related; taking higher doses produces a somewhat greater impact. In most cases, the lower dosage is adequate. Higher doses may lead to a greater number of disturbing dreams and nightmares due to abnormally prolonged REM sleep. It can also lead to mild nausea.

Melatonin

Melatonin has been called the body’s own natural sleeping pill. It plays a key role in the sleep cycle by helping you fall asleep. Low melatonin levels can cause sleep-onset insomnia.

This is how our body can utilize melatonin in controlling our sleep:

1. The body changes serotonin into melatonin.

2. Melatonin is stored in the pineal gland inside the brain.

3. The pineal gland releases melatonin only during times when the level of light is low. Practically speaking, this means that melatonin is secreted only at night, while you are asleep. In the morning, when you open your eyes, the presence of light is a sign to your brain to shut down the melatonin production.

The pineal gland releases melatonin only during times when the level of light is low. Practically speaking, this means that melatonin is secreted only at night, while you are asleep. In the morning, when you open your eyes, the presence of light is a sign to your brain to shut down the melatonin production.

Travelers have started using melatonin to reset their internal clocks after flying across one or more time zones, and some studies seem to confirm melatonin’s efficacy in combating jet lag and restoring restful sleep patterns.

Cherries are one of the few known food sources of melatonin, a potent antioxidant produced naturally by the body’s pineal gland that helps regulate biorhythm and natural sleep patterns. Scientists have found melatonin-rich tart cherries (commonly enjoyed as dried, frozen, juice or concentrate) contain more of this powerful antioxidant than what is normally produced by the body. Eating cherries can be a natural way to boost your body’s melatonin levels to hasten sleep and ease jet lag.

Try eating dried cherries one hour before desired sleep time on the plane. After arrival, consume cherries one hour before desired sleep each night for at least three consecutive evenings.

The Importance of Sleep

Adequate sleep is absolutely necessary for long term health and regeneration. Many different physiologic processes occur during sleep. So without sufficient amounts of sleep our body and mind do not get recharged.

The importance of sleep to our mood is obvious, but often overlooked. Our sleep quality is directly proportional to the quality of our mood and our life…it helps us to be more positive, joyful and passionate.