The need to sleep!

Do you get enough sleep? Many of us actually do not get enough sleep, and we aren’t even aware of it. We have just adjusted to it without even realizing that we are not getting good sleep.  We just think the energy level that we have is “normal”.

The fact is that we are not getting the real rest that we need, and if we did,  we would notice a difference in our morale/mood, energy level, and alertness that would shock most of us.  But the big issue is that the lack of sleep can affect your immune system, making you more susceptible to illness.  Sleep is, after all, when the body can take the time to heal.

In addition most of us also don’t realize the impact that the foods we eat have on our sleep.  Of course we know that caffeine keeps us awake. So, clearly we want to avoid anything that has caffeine in it at least six hours before bedtime. But just as caffeine is something that keeps us awake, there are many foods that actually help us get better sleep. Any food that contains tryptophan is a ‘sleeper’ food.

Tryptophan is an amino acid that produces melatonin in the brain. Melatonin slows down the traffic in the nerves and helps our brains rest. The brain, of course, is the body’s central control center. When it’s active, so is the rest of the body – but when it rests so does the body.

You’ve heard of having a warm glass of milk to help you sleep. The ‘warm’ part really has no nutritional effect on sleep. But it is a psychological trigger that soothes us from our baby days, when our mothers fed us warmed milk or baby formula. however, the nutritional components of milk actually does promote sleep, because milk has calcium and tryptophan.

Calcium actually helps the brain use the tryptophan in a more productive way, making it produce melatonin faster, which relaxes our brains enough to let us fall into a deep, relaxing sleep.

Again, this is because of the calcium. Not only does this calcium help the brain produce melatonin, it also reduces pain and stiffness, helps decrease leg cramps, restless legs, and muscle spasms that many people experience during the night that keep us awake.

FYI – magnesium can also have the same effect.  Some people need calcium, some magnesium and some need a combination of both.  In fact, one of our customers mentioned to us that if he has any trouble sleeping, he just gets up and takes some of our Coral Calcium, and sleeps like a baby within a short time.

The nice thing is that taking one or the other will not harm you.  They are just natural minerals and the also have other great nutritional aspects for the body as well.

Here is a recent email we got from one of our customers:

February 8, 2010

Dear CAOH,

“I would like to thank California Academy of Health, and share with you that Calm has restored my sanity.  I was at my wits end after having suffered through six months of insomnia at this time last year.  I didn’t want to go on prescription medication and had tried multiple over-the-counter sleep aids, none of which helped.  I have ordered Goji Berries from www.caoh.com for a couple of years now, and was browsing your on-line product catalog.  I was interested enough in the name of the product to read the description.  I ordered a bottle of Calm, and that $20 provided instant relief of my insomnia.  I take one capsule after lunch and have slept like a baby for the past year.  That’s six months of sleep for $20!  And it’s all natural.  I don’t know why more physicians and OBs don’t recommend absorbable magnesium to their patients, especially those in peri- and menopause.”

Thank you CAOH!

Cathy
Philadelphia, PA

Here are some products that can help with sleep:

Question: My husband has been suffering from insomnia for a while. I am concerned about the L- tryptophan capsules that they were banned. Are they safe? Do they work?

Thanks,

Stacy

Answer: Stacy,

Another customer just asked the same question. 

How do you feel about L-Tryptophan?  What kind of people would you recommend this for?  I know way back they took it off the market due to some unfortunate incidents. It was, as still is, totally safe. The FDA made a big mistake, now it’s fixed. 3 before bed is the recommended dose and can be taken by most adults.

Here is a good tryptophan reference – Here

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.

Question Dr. E

I have been using your products for the last 6 mo. and have been very happy with them.
I currently take 1 scoop of your protein powder, 1 oz of Acai and 1 oz of goji in a soy/rice milk shake every morning. I’m always looking to try and experiment with new things.

I’m going to be placing another order and would appreciate your product recommendations. I’m 45, very fit, active and plan on staying that way,…LOL

I’m currently interested in:

• L-Tryptophan

• Whey Protein Powder

• Goji Fusion OR Absolute Goji

• ACAI Max OR Absolute Acai Powder

• Liquid Power

1. Would all of the above be recommended or would the benefits of some be found in the others and then they would overlap eliminating the need for all of them?

2. Would you have any other recommendations?

3. How would you recommend taking the supplements?

Thank you in advance for your response.

Tom

Answer Tom,

I am almost 44 and have the same goals. This is what I do in the morning. It’s a little extreme but I want to live to 100, go to bed with a smile on my face and just not wake-up the next day, never having to see any doctor and not on medications. You can also check out my practice website here
www.advancedhealing.com

From caoh.com* I take daily:

• 1 scoop whey protein*

• 2 scoops Absolute Acai*

• 1 ounce Liquid Power*

• 1 tblsp liquid flax seed oil

• 1 tblsp wheat germ oil

• 1 tsp molecularly distilled fish oil

• 1 heaping tblsp Ultra Supreme Greens*

• Frozen strawberries and blueberries

And if I need a little immune boost I will add 1 ounce of TheraAloe*.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc

Reply Dr. E,

Thank you for your reply.

I have a couple more questions:

1. How do you feel about L-Tryptophan? What kind of people would you recommend this for? I know way back they took it off the market due to some unfortunate incidents.

2. ACAI Max OR Absolute Acai Powder? Why choose one over the other?

3. Taking the list below, how beneficial would adding supreme greens be?

• Whey Protein Powder

• Goji Fusion OR Absolute Goji

• ACAI Max OR Absolute Acai Powder

• Liquid Power

• 10 oz soy milk

• 4 oz rice milk

• 1tbl flaxseed oil

Tom,

1. How do you feel about L-Tryptophan? What kind of people would you recommend this for? I know way back they took it off the market due to some unfortunate incidents. It was as still is totally safe. FDA made a big mistake now it’s fixed. 3 before bed is the recommended dose and can be taken by most adults.

2. ACAI Max OR Absolute Acai Powder? Why choose one over the other? Absolute Acai, because it’s pure 100% acai goodness.

3. Taking the list below, how beneficial would adding supreme greens be? Very beneficial.

• Whey Protein Powder
• Goji Fusion OR Absolute Goji
• ACAI Max OR Absolute Acai Powder
• Liquid Power
• 10 oz soy milk – Would use water, too many sugar calories and not much nutritional benefit.
• 4 oz rice milk – Would use water, too many sugar calories and not much nutritional benefit.
• 1tbl flaxseed oil

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger Dc, BSc