No one likes to have a bad night’s sleep. Yet, Americans are one of the most sleep-deprived nations on earth.
The National Sleep Foundation recently polled residents of the United States, Canada, Germany, Japan, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Participants were between the ages of 25 and 55.
The results:
- Less than 50% of all respondents sleep well every night
- The US and Japan get the least amount of sleep overall
- 25% of people in the US sleep well before a workday
Poor quality sleep, of course, can have a number of causes.
Chronic and Life-Threatening Health Conditions Poor Sleep Causes
Now in America, it’s easy to say people who sleep too much are “lazy.” But, they might actually be smart. The long-term effects of poor sleep are quite serious, as they can include:
- Impairment in your concentration, alertness, and ability to learn
- Increased risk of strokes and heart attacks
- Vulnerability to diabetes
- Lowered sex drive
- Depression
- Skin that ages faster
- More forgetfulness
- Weight gain
Sleep deprivation also caused the nuclear accidents at Three Mile Island in the United States, the nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl, and the Exxon Valdez oil spill. And, more commonly, how many car accidents have you heard of where the driver was exhausted?
So, it’s easy to see how lack of sleep can be fatal.
Supplements that Can Improve the Quality of Your Sleep
Fortunately, there’s lots of things you can do to improve your sleep quality. These include:
- Eating healthy
- Exercising regularly (4 days of aerobic exercise per week)
- Always sleeping in your own bed
- Sleeping the hours you need
- Eating at least 3 hours before you sleep
- Making dinner your lightest meal of the day
- Doing what’s in your control to remove stressors from your life
- Prayer and meditation
- Not sleeping with your pets
And consuming certain natural supplements can help you sleep better too. Supplements that can help you sleep better include:
- Cod liver oil
- Coconut oil
- Magnesium (which many people are deficient in)
- Chamomile
- Catnip
- Ashwagandha
- Gelatin
As with anything, you have to include a number of solutions to make the problem go away. So, do what you need to improve the quality of your sleep, and consider adding in the right supplement at safe dosages too.