Sweet Sleep Blog

Tips for Your Routine Winding down You need to have a period of relaxing before bed.  During this time you should avoid screens and things that stimulate your body and mind.   Try things such as reading a book, having a cup of calming tea, taking a warm bath, gentle yoga, or meditation.  Explore and find the best relaxing thing for you to do. Try journaling   If you are stressed try writing out the problem or making lists.  Once you have everything written down it can help you relax because you don't have to worry about forgetting something.  Make sure that this is a step you do before your winding down period so these things aren't still on your mind.  Choose your bedtime snacks and drinks carefully Avoid that caffeine later in the day and skipping heavy meals right before bed is better for sleep and better for your overall health.   Stick to a schedule Monitor your sleep patterns and get an idea of how much sleep...

Great Snacks for Better Sleep Popcorn Oatmeal Whole-wheat crackers Nuts Cottage Cheese A warm cup of tea Warm Milk Fruit

Article of the Week!   Your sleep affects not only your mood but your health.  Without the proper sleep, you can develop many health issues and not just the obvious ones.  Read more here ! 

Delicious and Healthy Bedtime Snacks These mixes of carbs and protein increase serotonin levels which leads to better sleep. 1/2 cup whole-grain cereal with 1/2 cup nonfat milk 6 ounces low-fat yogurt and a sprinkling of berries 1 slice whole wheat toast and 1 tablespoon peanut butter 3.5 ounces fat-free vanilla pudding and 4 graham crackers 1/2 whole wheat pita and 2 tablespoons hummus 1 oatmeal raisin cookie and 8 ounces skim milk 6 whole-grain crackers and a small handful of walnuts

Eat well, sleep well As we've discussed before, diet is a huge part of your health.  When you eat well you are healthier.  A great diet leads to better health and better sleep. What you eat can effect your sleep greatly, like when you eat sugary snacks to get you through the morning then by afternoon you're crashing.   Instead of reaching for those sugary snacks in the morning, start off with a great breakfast like this one!  Open-Faced Broiled Egg, Spinach, Tomato Sandwich Skip a drive-thru egg sandwich and make this easy-to-prepare one at home. (It uses hard-boiled eggs, so you don’t even have to soil a pan.) Spinach and tomatoes provide valuable vitamins and antioxidants; a fiber-filled whole wheat English muffin combined with protein in the egg helps you stay satiated through lunchtime. PREP TIME: 10 minutes TOTAL TIME: 13 minutes SERVINGS: 1 ½ whole wheat english muffin ¼ c fresh spinach, cooked and squeezed dry (about 4 o...

Weekly Article This week's article is about Sleep Apnea.  We will talk all about the sleep disorder and some great info about how to help cope.   https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/sleep-apnea 

Insomnia We've talked about insomnia over the past couple of days.  Many times people will go undiagnosed with a sleep disorder, feeling that they're just a light sleeper, or that they just don't need a lot of sleep to function.  The truth is that you do need sleep.  Your body cannot function correctly without enough sleep and it is very rare for a person to actually need under 7 to 8 hours of sleep.  Many common signs of insomnia are Fatigue Problems with attention, concentration or memory (cognitive impairment) Poor performance at school or work Moodiness or irritability Daytime sleepiness Impulsiveness or aggression Lack of energy or motivation Errors or accidents Concern or frustration about your sleep If you are suffering from any of these symptoms you should consider speaking with a sleep specialist.   Insomnia or Not? How do you know if it's insomnia keeping you up?  Sometimes it's not a disorder at all that keeps yo...

"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well."  Virginia Woolf This quote perfectly explains the relationship between your diet and your health.  At the very core of your health is the nutrition you put into your body.  The food you eat should contain nutrition that will give you the vitamins, protein, calories, minerals, etc., that our bodies need to thrive.  Without the correct balance of nutrition we can be left feeling sluggish, hungry even after a meal, or even ill.  Get in the right nutrition Most of us know the importance of having the right balance of fruits, veggies, protein, grains, fats, etc., in our diets.  There is more to finding the right nutrition for your body that needs to be considered.  Many people have intolerances to food that they may not even be aware of.  Dairy and gluten are the biggest hidden sensitivites.  These can cause many health problems that aren't as obvious as perhaps a ...