Better Body Clinical Nutrition

BLOG

Sleep Better!

Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:33 PM

Adjust Your Circadian Rhythm to Sleep Better
29 July 2015 - Posted by Kathryn Kos under Sleep
By EnviroMedica
** This is a great follow up to the article I posted just yesterday (the importance of getting sun so our bodies produce enough Vitamin D and all its numerous benefits) 
Sleep is just as important for our health as nutrition and exercise. Culturally we tend to value work oversleep. However, quality sleep can make a huge difference in the quality of the work you produce. Sleep affects every aspect of our lives and should be taken more seriously. Lack of sleep affects our mental health, our emotions, and our physical performance as well.
During the summer we get plenty of sunshine, and sunshine helps to produce quality melatonin, a hormone that helps to induce sleep. During the long days of summer, we fall into a “summer rhythm” with our sleep. Come fall, the days start getting shorter, and we get less daylight. So how can we adjust our internal clock to ease into the darkness and still get sound, quality sleep?
Your circadian rhythm is a 24-hour built-in biological clock. Sunlight exposure triggers the body’s hypothalamus to start producing hormones to regulate this internal clock. One such hormone, the most powerful for sleep, is melatonin. During the summer it’s easy to go out and get sunshine, but without sunlight, we don’t produce adequate melatonin. The best time of day to get sunlight and regulate the internal clock is early in the morning. This fall, try getting up early to go for a brisk walk; this is a great way to get better sleep at night.
During the winter months it isn’t as easy to get adequate sunlight during the day. However, it’s just as important! If you work in an office, try to work by a sunny window and increase your sun exposure by getting outdoors as much as possible, even if it means bundling up to spend just a little time outside. Cloudy days count as well! You still get melatonin-producing rays on cloudy days.
What are some other ways to help ease into sleep?
Magnesium is an important mineral to help ease us into sleep.
According to Shawn Stevenson, in his book 21 Proven Ways to Sleep Your Way to a Better Body, Better Health, and Bigger Success:
“Magnesium is a bona fide anti-stress mineral. It helps to balance blood sugar, optimize circulation, and blood pressure, relax tense muscles, reduce pain, and calm the nervous system. Yet, because it has so many functions, it tends to get depleted by our bodies rather fast.”
** Not all magnesium is equal, and many do not get absorbed well therefore, we recommend Magnesium Lactate by Standard Process. 
Reduce screen time before bed
Although we need sunshine during the day, we need darkness in the evening. In this technological age we are constantly viewing screens in the evening, spending our time looking at cell phone screens, television screens, computer screens, and even reading our books on screens. Blue light from these screens tricks our bodies into staying awake, and this makes it difficult to get quality sleep.
What are some ways to counteract blue light? Limit the use of any such screens for two hours preceding bedtime. Instead, get into a routine of taking a warm bath, reading a book, or doing some gentle stretching. If you do need to be on a screen before bed, you can wear special blue light blocking glasses or even blue light blocking screen covers.
When you are ready to sleep, make sure the room you sleep in is as dark as possible. You may need to use black out curtains if you are in a well-lit area. Avoid the use of nightlights, as any light can interfere with your precious sleep cycle.
Remember, getting quality sleep is a priority. As we move toward shorter days be sure to get out in the sunshine and let your body produce melatonin. Eat magnesium rich foods, and ease into a bedtime routine that does not involve blue light. 
Sweet dreams!






























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































It is very precise and scientific. However, if I were to analyze you using Nutrition Response Testing before it was explained to you, you might find it strange, or simply not believable – only because it is probably very different from anything you may have experienced before.


Quite frankly, if you want to get healthy and stay healthy, it is important that you understand what Nutrition Response Testing is, and what our recommendations are based on.


Otherwise, you are less likely to follow through and actually do what you need to do to get well. To put it simply, if you don't follow through, you won't get well. And if you are not going to get well, why do it in the first place?


The results we have been having with Nutrition Response Testing are often in the 90% and better range. The only reason we are here is to help you get well. That is why I want to make sure you get the correct understanding of what Nutrition Response Testing is right from the start.


Let's get started

In medical practice there are two key parts: the diagnosis (identifying and/or naming the “disease” or syndrome) and the treatment (drugs, surgery, etc.).


In Nutrition Response Testing we do not diagnose or treat disease - but we also have two parts: the analysis and the personalized health improvement program (using designed clinical nutrition).


Simply put, first we do an analysis, and then we design a natural health improvement program to help you handle what we find in our analysis of your body and condition.


First the Analysis

The analysis is done through testing the body's own neurological reflexes and acupuncture points. The neurological reflexes are derived from the part of the nervous system whose job is to regulate the functions of each and every organ. The acupuncture points are selected from the ancient Chinese system of acupuncture, which is thousands of years old.


Nutrition Response Testing is a study of how the different points on the surface of the body relate to the state of health and to the flow of energy in each and every organ and function of the body.


Interestingly, since the human anatomy has not changed significantly in thousands of years, the utilization of these reflexes and specific points have become extremely useful in our practice because they are so accurate!


Think about it

Each Nutrition Response Testing reflex represents a specific organ, tissue, or function, and indicates the effect that energy, or the lack of energy, is having on the body. By testing the Nutrition Response Testing reflexes, we have a system of monitoring your body at each visit that has proven to be extremely accurate clinically, and that helps us identify exactly what the body needs and how well we are meeting that need.


Doesn't this sound like something you would want for yourself in order to predict, with certainty, what is needed and wanted by the body to get you to the next stage of improved health?


How do we access the Nutrition Response Testing™ reflexes in order to get this information?


If I were to hook you up to an electro-cardiograph machine and take a reading, that would make perfect sense to you, right?


What is actually happening during this procedure? Electrical energy from the heart is running over the wires. This electrical energy makes the electrocardiograph record the energy pattern in the form of a graph or chart. I could then study this graph and tell you what it all means.


Here is what we do with Nutrition Response Testing. Instead of connecting electrodes to the specific points being tested, the Nutrition Response Testing doctor contacts these points with his/her own hand. With his other hand, he/she will test the muscle of your extended arm. If the reflex being contacted is active, the nervous system will respond by reducing energy to the extended arm, and the arm will weaken and drop. This drop signifies underlying stress or dysfunction, which can be affecting your health.


Call us at 512-961-1866 to schedule your visit, or to reserve a seat at one of our Free Health Seminars to find out more.