Natural Sleep Aids

I don't know about you but I cannot sleep at night! I usually am so exhausted that I fall right to sleep but I don't stay asleep. Regardless of when I go to bed I am usually wide awake by 3:30 or 4 in the morning and just lay there wishing I could sleep. I have had this problem for years and never wanting to take sleeping medications, I don't want to feel drugged in the morning or become dependent on them. I have taken melatonin and it helps some but when I saw this list of natural sleep aids I thought I have to try them! If you have trouble sleeping give them a try and let me know if any of them work for you! Here is hoping to a lot more sleep for all of us!

Kiwi: This tiny fuzzy fruit packs a punch of serotonin. Researchers at Taipei Medical University in Taiwan found that eating two kiwis before bedtime resulted in falling asleep more quickly and sleeping more soundly. The nice thing I learned recently is you don't even have to peel them! Rinse and rub them under cold water and eat them whole, skin and all. They are good this way!

Tart Cherry Juice: A glass of tart cherry juice a day could keep the restless nights at bay. According to findings published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, researchers found that participants who drank eight ounces of tart cherry juice a day reported less insomnia. It's suspected the fruit's red-hot powers lie in its high melatonin content, which helps induce sleepiness. Make sure you are getting a juice that is actually fruit juice and not from concentrate and loaded with sugar!

Lavender: Not only does what you put into your body affect your sleep but also what is around you in your environment. The scent of lavender relaxes your nervous system. Tie a few sprigs together and stick them on your nightstand or above you on your bed frame.

Green Tea: Pull out that cute whistling tea kettle! A steamy cup of green tea can help you get some shut-eye, says Catherine Darley, director of the Institute of Naturopathic Sleep Medicine in Seattle. The drink contains l-theanine, a relaxing amino acid. To have any benefits, you need to consume about 200mg daily—that's about two cups.

Valerian: A tall blooming grassland plant, known as valerian, may be the fix to falling asleep faster. According to Darley, the natural sleep aid reduces the amount of time it takes to doze off. She recommends taking 625mg before bed to give insomnia the boot.

Magnesium Oil: You don't always need to pop a pill—even an herbal one, according to Taz Bhatia, MD, an integrative health expert in Atlanta. "Rub magnesium oil on the bottoms of your feet and around your neck area at bedtime," Bhatia says. "It helps balance serotonin, a sleep neurotransmitter."

Magnolia Bark: If you easily drift off but find yourself waking up bright-eyed in the middle of the night, Bhatia recommends taking 300mg of magnolia bark to bring on a real snooze-fest. "It lower cortisol levels, which can sometimes spike at irregular times and keep you awake," she says.

Bananas: Hit up the produce aisle to bring on the sleep. Bananas are loaded with magnesium, which has a calming effect, but the peel has about three times the magnesium as the fruit itself, says Michael Breus, PhD, a sleep specialist in Scottsdale, Arizona. "Cut off the tips, keep the skin on and boil it in water for six to seven minutes—then drink." The tropical banana tea will have you nodding off in no time.

Bananas-You Will Never Look At Them The Same Way Again

I found a random article online about bananas.  I had to read it because bananas are one of my favorite things to eat, I usually eat at least one every day.  And if I go a day or two without a banana I honestly have withdrawals.  Here are some very interesting facts about bananas and the great things they can do for you!

Bananas contain three natural sugars-sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber.  A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.  So next time you are dragging don't reach for that energy drink that is so unhealthy for you, instead grab a banana for some instant and healthy energy!

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.  No surprise then that the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

Energy isn't the only way a banana can help to keep you fit.  It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number or illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to your daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent study that was done by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana.  This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and overall make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills, eat a banana!  The vitamin B6 that bananas contain regulates blood glucose levels which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and that helps in  cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique fruit is extremely high in potassium and yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure so much so that the US Food and Drug Administration has allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham school (England) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power.  Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making students more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, by adding bananas to your diet you can help restore a more normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meal helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito Bites:  Before you reach for the insect bite cream , try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin.  Many people find it very successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

The banana is a natural remedy for many things.  When you compare it to an apple it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorous, five time the vitamin A and iron and twice the other vitamins and minerals.  It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.