Pulling the Blinds on Sleepy Misperceptions

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Think you can skimp on sleep during the week and make up for it later? The answer is, No, and my guest post courtesy of Vitacost.com explains why. Read on to learn more!

Sleep is an interesting paradox. Some people treasure their nightly eight hours, while others treat it like a guilty pleasure, enjoyed only in small “dozes.” As sleep deprivation becomes the norm, it’s rationalized by notions like, “I’ll sleep in tomorrow to catch up.” It’s time to quit dreaming and open your eyes to the importance of a good night’s sleep.

The Dream: “I’m out like a light.”

Reality: Ironically, the body is not completely inactive during sleep. It’s true that muscles in the limbs become temporarily paralyzed; but eyelids are jerking rapidly, heart rate increases and breathing becomes shallow. You may feel “dead to the world” or “out like a light,” but your brain technically is still turned on.

The Dream: “I can catch up on sleep this weekend.”

Reality: The body needs adequate, consistent rest in order to maintain a healthy immune system. Sleep is not like a savings account – you can’t add more when you have time. Sleeping until 2 p.m. on Sunday throws the balance of your circadian rhythm (internal clock), which throws off your mental and physical fitness. Stop running on the hamster wheel and start a routine of balanced sleep, healthy eating and regular exercise.

The Dream: “My body can adjust to sleeping during the day.”

Reality: A grave-shift worker may be able to coax his body to adjust, but his brain knows best. At night, the eyes send a signal to the brain that there is less light, and the internal clock will produce more melatonin to induce sleepiness. Sleeping after sunrise does not generate enough melatonin, making it difficult to fall asleep – and stay asleep.

The Dream: “I function better on less sleep.”

Reality: Sleep deprivation negatively affects the areas of the brain associated with motivation and desire. A sleep-deprived brain will seek food as a reward, because food is the most accessible treat, leading to weight gain. Lack of sleep has also been linked to depression, anxiety and other mood disorders.

The Dream: “I never dream.”

Reality: We sleep in stages: stages 1, 2, 3 and 4, and the fifth stage is rapid eye movement (REM). The brain cycles through these five stages over and over throughout the night, with REM being the deep sleep and dreams stage. Any time the brain reaches REM, you dream – if you don’t remember them, then that’s your own reality.

This article has been provided by the folks at Vitacost.com. Since 1994 Vitacost.com has been selling discount vitamins and supplements and has grown into one of the biggest online marketplaces for healthy living essentials-with many other helpful categories! Get the best price on vitamins, nutritional supplements, health foods and gluten free diet products.

Vitacost.com sells everything from Vitamin D to Raspberry Ketones. Vitacost.com offers nearly 2,000 of the top, most-trusted natural brands, diet foods and healthy living essentials-the very best nutritional supplements, whole foods and sports nutrition-at discount prices, up to 50% off.Vitacost.com is not affiliated with this blog, and isn’t responsible for content outside of this article.

By: +Elizabeth Lotts writer for Vitacost.com

Do You Suffer From Brain Fog?

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Do you ever get a major case of brain fog and just can’t seem to concentrate or complete a thought? Well there could be a specific reason this occurs and for me the answer was gluten. Yes, gluten! I remember getting to work in the mornings and not being able to concentrate for what seemed like a couple of hours. I used to blame it on what I was working on, perhaps that was a small part of it, but after eliminating gluten from my diet, it all became clear! The actual reason for my chronic brain fog was gluten.

After being off gluten for quite some time now, I did an experiment on myself. I had some cereal made with wheat one afternoon, and the very next morning, yep it was back again…Brain Fog! We often link gluten intolerance to stomach issues, but it can and does affect our brains as well. Some people get moody, others can’t seem to think straight, some get chronic cravings, migraines, headaches. There are several hidden ways gluten affects our bodies. The list below are some symptoms and there are several more. Click here for more extensive information.

  • depression
  • migraines and headaches
  • adrenal fatigue
  • ADD/ADHD
  • Autism
  • sinus problems
  • halitosis
  • mouth ulcers
  • gastrointestinal upset, including ulcers

Most people are fine and can consume gluten, which is a good thing, because foods like wheat, barley, rye, and oats (which contain gluten due to contamination, but you can find gluten free oats) are very nutritious. If you can tolerate gluten, then enjoy gluten containing foods and all of their benefits. If you suspect you may be intolerant, allergic, or possibly have celiac disease, try an elimination diet. Remove gluten from your diet for 2 weeks and see how you feel. You want to first be aware of all the places gluten can exist, including in soy sauce, cereal, bread, soups, cookies, most baked goods, pasta, bottled sauces, crackers.

Many products are now labeled gluten free so you know, but not all will tell you. It’s best to stick to the basics: nuts/seeds, dairy, eggs, fruit, veggies, meat, beans, lentils do not contain gluten, however, processed forms of all these foods may contain gluten. Gluten free grains are as follows: rice, wild rice, quinoa, corn, millet, amaranth. You can find gluten free cereals, crackers, pasta, and bread made of these gluten free grains as well.

If you found this article helpful, learned something new or have info to share, please comment below Smile

Helpful resources:

http://www.celiac.com/

http://celiac.org/

http://www.celiaccentral.org/Celiac-Disease/21/

Weight Loss Secret: Mindful Eating

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It’s not only what you eat, but how you eat it that makes all the difference. Mindful eating is a concept rooted from the Buddhist way of living. Being mindful of what you are putting in your mouth and taking in the sight, smell, flavors, and texture in a very present way connects you with the food you are eating. Chewing your food well (20-30 chews per forkful) and really savoring the experience in its entirety will increase satiety and allow you to eat much slower than the typical American pace of hurried meal times.

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Super Bowl Super Snacking

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Super Bowl is once a year and it’s the most watched television program every single year, hands down! It’s also a night of beer, wings, chips, cheese, dips, crunchy, salty, cheesy snacking all night long. Did you Super Snack your way through the game and now you’re feeling super guilty? Read more →