Sleep Trouble Can Take Years Off Your Life!

Did you know that there are over 80 classifications of sleep disorders?  Sleep problems add an estimated $15.9 billion to national health care costs.   It continues to amaze me how many people suffer with sleep trouble.

 Before we jump to taking a sleep aid, it is important to ask the question “Why?”  What would cause someone to experience sleep trouble?  People experience trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, waking up not feeling rested, challenges with waking in the morning, and sleep apnea, to name just a few sleep problems.  It is important to know what may cause these sleep challenges. 

I continue to work with people who suffer with sleep challenges and have met with very good success.  It’s easy to tell your doctor that you can’t sleep - he writes you a prescription for a sleep aid.   But is that really addressing the cause of your problem? 

Why the body is not able to rest and rest easy needs to be addressed.  Besides, this is the most important time for our bodies to heal.  If we are not sleeping, we are not giving our body the opportunity to heal and rebuild.  This can take years off of our lives.  Sleep is a very important aspect of health.    

Many factors may affect your body’s ability to sleep.  This includes diet, timing of meals, cortisol rhythm and adrenal health, stress, and blood sugar regulation.  If you struggle getting good quality sleep and have sleep challenges, here are a few tips you may want to try.  These are simple things I share with my clients that often times make a difference. 

  • First, try eating more protein and fewer carbohydrates, especially the refined type.  I recommend staying away from pasta, bread, rice and potatoes with your dinner meal.  Starches spike blood sugar and can disrupt sleep patterns. 
  • Try to eat your last meal of the day at a reasonable time.  The later the meal, the more sleep problems I see people experience. 
  • If you can tolerate nuts, I recommend eating a handful of raw cashews or almonds as an after dinner snack or before bed. 
  • Food sensitivities can also play a major role in sleep challenges.   For this, I recommend a food elimination diet for two weeks.   Avoid the foods that are the most common causes of sensitivities, which include dairy, wheat, soy and corn.  Eliminate one at a time for two weeks.  Throughout that time, take note if your sleep challenges improve. 

Other than diet, which can be an extensive discussion, adrenal insufficiency is another common reason for sleep disorders, along with hormone imbalances and mineral deficiencies. 

If you would like to learn more and discover a natural healthy way to sound restful sleep, join us in September at our next community health workshop.  We will take a deeper look at sleep disorders and challenges and share with you a healthy natural approach to sound restful sleep.

(Disclaimer: None of the information above is intended to replace prescription medication.)

Bryan Ruocco

Dr. Bryan Ruocco is a local chiropractor and wellness advocate. He owns and operates the Power of LIFE Wellness Center located in Rocky River. Dr. Ruocco graduated from the Life Chiropractic College in Marietta, GA. He graduated in the top of his class and received Magna Cum Laude Honors. 

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Volume 2, Issue 3, Posted 7:32 PM, 09.03.2014