Healthy Brain Fitness Tip # 7

Get Enough Sleep

Most of us who have pulled an "all nighter", or lost a night’s sleep know how poorly our brain works when deprived of sleep.

The trend of super-caffeinated, sleep-deprived Americans is a very serious problem. When we lose sleep, or don’t sleep at regular times, our brain hormones become imbalanced, leading to a higher level of cortisol (one of our stress hormones), and lgh (lower growth hormone), a healing and repair hormone.

Over time the stress of sleep deprivation eats away at our brain function. Most of us need more and better sleep.

Here are some tips for improved sleep:

Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day and try to get to sleep before midnight .
Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night.
If you have trouble falling asleep, try a little sleep ritual - Stop your day at least one or two hours before bedtime to wind down.
Don’t watch TV or check your email.
Take a hot bath with Epsom salt and 10 drops of lavender oil and just soak and relax for 20 minutes.
Try some supplemental magnesium. Magnesium is a relaxation mineral. - up to 300 to 600 mg a day of an absorbable form such as magnesium glycinate.

Learn more about how to improve sleep.