SUPPLEMENTS FOR A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP

Finding it difficult to get a good night’s sleep? Tired all the time? There are all sorts of reasons why we find it hard to get our RDA of shut eye, from noise, room temperature, bodily discomfort, a snoring partner and simply over-thinking the day’s events. 24-hour city living can play it’s toll, leaving us tired but wired and prone to irritability, lack of patience, forgetfulness, heightened emotions, stress and even anxiety.

To help us sleep well… Sharon Morey, Nutritionist at Quest Vitamins has some natural sleep tips; from insomnia, restless legs to daytime tiredness & groggy mornings, here is the A-Zzz of all things snooze!

Mother Nature to the rescue!

Have a snack before bed that is high in tryptophan, which is an amino acid that is used to make serotonin (which aside from making you happier, will also help you sleep better). Foods high in tryptophan include dairy products (the ‘old-school’ glass of hot milk before bed), bananas, and oats. You could also take it as a supplement.

Magnesium is ‘nature’s tranquiliser’ as it relaxes muscles and nerves. Many of us are deficient in magnesium. Have a good quality magnesium supplement before bed.  Try Quest Vitamins new Synergistic Magnesium from www.questexcellence.com

Vitamin B12 for Restless Leg Syndrome

Although a definitive cause for this troublesome syndrome is still unclear, it is considered by some professionals as a neurological condition. Imbalances in the nervous system may cause symptoms of RLS. There are links to imbalances with dopamine – a neurotransmitter and chemical made naturally by the body. Additionally, these kind of symptoms may be linked to mineral deficiencies such as iron, magnesium and vitamin B12 and in many cases, supplementing with these may help.

• Increase your levels of vegetables in your diet. You can use algae’s such as chlorella, spirulina and blue green algae, as well as land grasses such as wheatgrass and barley grass.

• Get your iron levels checked with your GP to see if are low – this is more common in women who have periods.

• Support your nervous system with a good B12 supplement.  Try Quest Vitamins new Vitamin B12 from www.questexcellence.com 

• Stay well hydrated throughout the day. As well as water, consider  drinking natural (sugar free) coconut water and you can also add  electrolyte drops to a bottle of water.