According to the Center for Advancing Health (CFAH), up to 70 million American adults have some type of sleep disorder.

That’s about one out of four of us!

Now, it’s normal for most people to have an occasional poor night’s sleep. Things like stress, congestion and coughing from a cold, nighttime storms, or even the neighbor’s dog barking at night can interrupt our sleep.

But 70 million of us have a sleep disorder—meaning that it happens more than just once in a while.

If this sounds like you, then please read this blog in its entirety because the price you pay from poor sleep goes way beyond feeling tired and yawning during the day.

In fact, even ONE poor night’s sleep can depress your mood, lower your concentration and weaken your immune system function.

Regularly losing sleep can increase your risk of obesity and diabetes, impair your brain function and raise your risk of heart disease, Alzheimer’s and cancer! 

But there are several surprising reasons why insomnia may be your regular companion that you (or your doctor) might not have even thought of.

Here’s what I mean:

Can’t sleep? This may be why.

Your meds

Several medications, both prescription and OTC, can affect your sleep. These include:

1. Alpha-blockers
2. Beta-blockers
3. Corticosteroids 
4. SSRI antidepressants 
5. ACE inhibitors 
6. Angiotensin II-receptor blockers (ARBs) 
7. Cholinesterase inhibitors 
8. H1 antagonists 
9. Statins

What to do: If you are on any of these medications, it’s time to talk to your doctor about alternatives. For example, fish oil formulas like VitalMega-3 can help with high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, inflammation and depression!

And if you use corticosteroids for hay fever, seasonal allergies or asthma, a potent probiotic formula like Super Shield PLUS can naturally help support a healthier immune response and ease symptoms.

Acid reflux/GERD

Symptoms of acid reflux/GERD can significantly diminish your quality of sleep.

What to do: Assisting the digestive process along by supplementing with an enzyme formula like Digestizol Max can help prevent heartburn from occurring in the first place.

Also, be sure to allow a gap of 3-4 hours after eating before you go to bed. Adjust your dinner to an earlier time if necessary.

Menopause

In addition to hot flashes, many women experience severe sleeplessness when menopause hits. Plus men may have similar symptoms when going through andropause.

What to do: Consider bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).

Unlike synthetic drugs, BHRT works to help naturally reestablish the way your body sends messages to your tissues and organs to keep them healthy.

The body has an easier time assimilating bio-identical hormones because they are identical in molecular structure to the hormones naturally made in your body.

You’ll have to seek out a practitioner that does BHRT—and because it’s more of a holistic therapy, many mainstream doctors are not familiar with it, but it is growing in popularity.

Chronic back and joint pain

While it’s normal for most people to be sore after a new workout or strenuous activity, chronic pain is a whole different animal, and it can have a significant impact on your sleep.

What to do: If you want to try a natural approach to easing chronic pain, our Optimal Turmeric Blend is your ticket!

Turmeric has been shown in research to help ease back and joint pain, and in several studies, it even worked just as well as prescription pain relievers—without all the potential side effects!

Hidden sources of caffeine

Most people know that caffeine can affect sleep and avoid coffee, tea, energy drinks and soda at night, but there are also other hidden sources of caffeine that you might not be aware of.

What to do: Watch out for these sneaky caffeine sources:

• Decaf coffee (yes, you read that right)
• Chocolate (especially dark chocolate)
• Ice cream (especially chocolate and coffee flavors)
• OTC pain relievers like Excedrin
• Breath fresheners and chewing gum
• Protein bars
• Kombucha
• Non-cola sodas (many people think just cola has caffeine, but most other non-cola varieties of soda do too)
• Vitamin waters
• Granola bars
• Certain herbal ingredients (ginkgo, Siberian ginseng, ma huang, bitter orange)

Your nightcap

Many people like to have a nightcap in the evening, or use alcohol to induce sleep, but too much alcohol close to bedtime can have the exact opposite effect and keep you staring at the ceiling!

What to do: Consume alcohol earlier in the evening, preferably with a meal. If you want to sip something before bed, opt for chamomile tea. 

You’re deficient in Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is an important player in proper cellular function, and deficiency can interrupt your circadian rhythms (your body’s sleep/wake cycle).

Unfortunately, B12 is a very common deficiency for several reasons:

• Absorption can be tricky, especially for people who lack stomach acid and and/or use acid reducers.
• Your body's ability to produce the proteins needed for B12 absorption declines with age. Therefore, people aged 50 or over are at a greater risk.
• Digestive conditions such as IBS, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis also affect B12 absorption and can leave you running low.
• Antibiotics and Type 2 diabetes medications such as Metformin can also hamper B12 absorption.
• Smoking and excessive alcohol use can hinder absorption.
• Most of our meat supply is factory-farmed now, and these meats simply do not contain the B12 levels they used to.

What to do: One of the most reliable ways to get the B12 your body needs (that costs a mere fraction of what you'd pay for injections in a doctor's office) is to use Hydroxaden 2.5 Vitamin B spray.

Just 5 sprays under your tongue each day delivers 2.5 mg of Vitamin B12, plus Vitamins B2, B3 and B6 and a blend of soothing herbs.

You’re hungry

When your body is hungry and needs nourishment, it will let you know…and it doesn’t care if it’s in the middle of the night when that happens. Many people are awakened by feelings of hunger.

In addition, like all your body’s other processes, your ability to make neurotransmitters that help you sleep (including melatonin, serotonin and GABA) depends on having supportive levels of essential nutrients.

What to do: Stay away from nutrient-poor processed and fast foods. Concentrate on nourishing real foods like meats, poultry and wild-caught fish, fresh vegetables and fruits, eggs, whole grains and healthy fats like real butter, olive oil, coconut oil and avocado.

Also, avoid sugar and refined carbs as much as possible. 

Nighty night

When you look at all the possible reasons for your poor sleep and do what you can to turn them around, you too can start getting regular restful sleep!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia