I know first hand the importance of sleep, for five painful years sleep eluded me.

These days, sleep is by far one of my favorite passive activities. While I sleep, my body works hard making repairs, detoxing and most importantly giving my body a much need break from my hectic life. Sleep is super important for metal health too, because melatonin is the counterbalance for serotonin and serotonin = happy. Sound sleep is also a state of parasympathetic, a healing and calming state for the body to be in and necessary for healthy homeostasis. 

If your life permits, a short nap during the day can actually be restorative and has been shown to decrease stress and improves productivity while not disturbing natural sleep rhythms. Also, try to get outside in the sun because unadulterated vitamin D is an essential vitamin/hormone in the human body and best received from nature but if that ain't gonna happen a top-shelf D3 will do the trick. 

Who has time for sleep? Well, lack of sleep can result in hormonal imbalances, poor sleep increases appetite (ghrelin the hunger hormone) and decreases Leptin, the hormone that reduces appetite, and this imbalance leads to increased desire for high palatable foods, i.e., carbs, sugar, salty and fried. Poor sleep can activate the sympathetic nervous system causing stress and cortisol to rise along with your blood sugar while decreasing insulin sensitivity and decreasing energy (leptin resistance), dropping motivation and mood (serotonin). It also impedes the bodies ability to detox correctly and make its much needed cellular repairs often leading to inflammation and unwanted weight gain among a slew of other potential health risks. 

A healthy metabolism begins with healthy sleep, healthy sleep starts with eating for health instead of whatever your tastebuds crave. Finding a way to add in a daily movement/workout routine with some sort of calming bedtime routine ( maybe guided meditation or a magnesium bath) could help calm you down and put you in the mood for some restful, restorative sleep.  Having done all of that, you, my friend will be living your best HEALTHY life. 

For people struggling with unwanted weight, one of the components to look at is sleep patterns as poor sleep/stress can increase visceral adiposity (fat around the middle)  and an increased BMI because it slows the metabolism and increases appetite hormones for all the wrong foods. A very vicious cycle. 

Creating Better Sleep.

Don't drink caffeinated drinks after 12p. I know, it doesn't affect you. Cool. Stop drinking caffeine after 12 PM anyway. Gracias.

Eat a wholesome organic plant-based diet full of veggies I'm talking vegetables with every meal, (including breakfast) healthy fats, nuts, seed and lean protein, natural grass fed or fish, wild meats or a complete veggies protein. Masticate, breathe, be thankful for the life you live.

Also, stop eating 3 hours before bed. Take a relaxing bath with magnesium salts, turn lights off and candles on. Beeswax preferably. Read a great novel or journal. Also, boozing before bed doesn't really give you better sleep, passing out isn't really considered sleeping well or sleeping, its a state of emergency for your body. The liver is all, HOLY SHIT, WTF am I suppose to do with all this...tequila. 

Eating well helps calm the entire nervous system, creating balance and healing from within. From the moment we wake up we are writing our sleep story. Cut coffee and replace it with green tea. Cut out any toxic personal routines ranging from people to botox. Cut processed sugars and refined carbs along with fried foods and alcohol. Learn how to deal with stress and if need be seek a professional out to speak with. Whatever it takes, sleep well.