Nothing feels better then waking up after a deep, relaxing sleep. The mind feels fresh, the body has recovered from the previous day and you are ready to tackle whatever the world throws at you. Unfortunately most of us aren’t getting the proper quality sleep we require and this is due to a lot of real worlds factors – stress, anxiety and alcohol consumption just to name a few.
When your body enters a proper restful stage of sleep it does some amazing things;
- Your pituitary gland releases growth hormones which helps your body grow and repair
- Your immune systems released cytokines which fight inflammation and infection
- Your brain’s glymphatic system clears out waste from the central nervous system
What is of most concern to people who have high amounts of physical activity is that without adequate high quality sleep your body will struggle to recover.
With that in mind there are many supplements that can be used to improve you sleep;
5-Hydroxytryptophan(5-htp) –5-HTP is by product of the amino acid L-tryptophan which is an essential amino acid. 5-HTP helps the body produce more serotonin which regulates our sleep-wake cycles. 5-HTP can help in easing stress and anxiety which as mentioned above are two factors that diminish our quality of sleep.
L-Theanine –L-Theanine is another amino acid which can greatly improve your quality of sleep by increasing relaxation and decreasing stress. This is achieved as L-Theanine increased both serotonin and dopamine.
Gamma-Aminobutyric acid(GABA) –GABA is an amino acid naturally produced by the body. GABA is a inhibitory neurotransmitter which means reduces the activity between neurons in the brain and central nervous system. This in turn facilitates sleep, reduces mental and physical stress, lowers anxiety, and creates a calmness of mood.
Valerian –Valerian is an herb native to Asia and Europe but as it’s become increasingly popular is now grown in many other countries. While the flower of the Valerian is used to make perfumes it is the root of the Valerian that has been used for centuries for it’s sleep benefits. Valerians assist with sleep by reducing the breakdown of GABA, improving response to stress and maintaining high levels of serotonin.
Magnesium –Magnesium is the wonder nutrient that the body requires for so many of it’s functions including but not limited to regulating muscle and nerve function, maintaining blood sugar levels and blood pressure, and aids bone development. People with magnesium definiens can experience the sleep disorder restless leg syndrome.
Ashwagandha –Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that works to counteract the harmful effects of stress in the body by lowering cortisol(the stress hormone) which allows for a more restful sleep.
We love products such as SWITCH NUTRITION Adrenal Switch, FORCE ELEMENT Night Ops or OUTBREAK Refuge.
Disclaimer: The above article is merely a guide and is in no way a recommendation or a treatment protocol for any health conditions or diseases. You should always consult with a qualified health care provider before changing your supplement, training or nutritional strategy. Supplementation should not be attempted by pregnant or breastfeeding women, anyone on prescription medication or children under the age of 15 unless advised by your qualified health care provider. The above article has been written by Chad Streatfield (Store Manager - Charlestown)
