Getting a good night sleep is essential for health. Having insomnia or trouble falling asleep can greatly decrease your quality of life. It’s estimated that 27% of adults struggle with insomnia and women tend to suffer greater numbers than men. Lack of a good night sleep can result in daytime sleepiness, reduced cognitive performance, and potentially dangerous inattentiveness.
I started struggling with insomnia as a teenager. I couldn’t fall asleep at night, but I could sleep like a rock during the day, if allowed. I was groggy all of the time and I would get in trouble for falling asleep in class. According to my doctor it was just part of being a teenager. I depended on other people to wake me in the morning because I would shut it off my alarm clock and not realize it. As I entered my 20’s I struggled to stay awake riding in the car for more than 10 minutes. My family and friends had to drive me around because I didn’t want to risk falling asleep at the wheel.
It would take me about 2-3 hours to fall asleep each night and on the weekends I would sleep 10-12 hours. I began to think maybe I had some disorder I inherited. My grandfather sleeps all day and mows the lawn with a flash light at night (his neighbors love him). Maybe my body doesn’t want to sleep at night – maybe I’m doomed to be forever groggy. I knew something was wrong with me, but according to my doctor, I was in good health.
My doctor offered sleeping pills or it was recommended I try Melatonin. I opted for Melatonin since it was the natural option. Melatonin is a hormone released by the pineal gland in response to the absence of light. Its release into the bloodstream triggers a chain of events that promote sleep. It’s used to retrain the sleep cycle with situations such as jet lag. The melatonin worked for a little while but eventually my body stopped responding to it.
As time went on, the sleeping problems got worse. In my early 30’s a new symptom started – Restless Leg Syndrome. The constant movement was now keeping my partner awake too. Then something really frightening happened, I was found sleep walking by hotel security while on vacation.
I had to make changes, I couldn’t take it anymore. I continued to research natural alternatives and tried a few detoxification kits but nothing seemed to work. Then I found Dr. Hyman’s books and detox box, I followed his recommendations for a few months and found myself sleeping through the night. I discovered the restless legs and excessive sleep were caused by my diet and my insomnia was caused by vitamin and mineral deficiencies. I always took vitamins, but I guess the quality or the dosages were not enough to correct my deficiency.
Magnesium is the relaxation mineral and it’s required for over 325 biochemical reactions in the body. It’s estimated that over 68% of the population is magnesium deficient. Some of us aren’t getting it in our diets and it’s forced out of our bodies from stress, excessive sweating, parasites, caffeine, phosphates, sugar, alcohol, smoking, diuretics, antibiotics, steroids, birth control, and several prescription and illegal drugs.
Even if you have a healthy diet and lifestyle, you need about 300 mg a day just to offset the loss of magnesium. Most people will benefit from 500-1000mg per day and some need more. I take it every day and I keep a bottle of 500 mg of magnesium in my nightstand. I found taking it right before bed time relaxes me and helps me to fall asleep in 20 minutes. After 20 years, my battle with insomnia is finally over. Sure occasionally I have a night when my mind is racing and I can’t seem to shut it off -but those nights are rare. Usually a 2nd dose of magnesium will do the trick.
If you suffer from insomnia or have trouble falling asleep, I highly recommend magnesium. I’ve seen it work for a lot of people and it’s very inexpensive.
Some other natural sleep aids to consider if magnesium doesn’t do the trick:
· Vitamin A
· Vitamin E
· B-12 (methycobalin)
· Niacin
· Zinc
· 5-HTP
· Melatonin
· GABA
· Valerian and Lemon Balm
Try taking a hot bath with 1 cup of Epsom salts and 10 drops of lavender oil. You’ll absorb the magnesium from the Epsom salts to relax your body and the lavender will help to relax your mind. If you don’t have a bath tub, plug the drain in the shower and add the Epsom salt and lavender. A nice hot shower with your feet soaking in Epsom will work well too.
Remove all soda and caffeinated beverages from your diet. Most people think it’s the caffeine that prevents them from sleeping. The caffeine actually causes you to excrete all your magnesium and that will keep you from falling asleep long after the caffeine has worn off.
Only eat healthy whole foods. Processed or inflammation foods can keep you from having a good night sleep – especially too much sugar. Consider an allergen/inflammation elimination diet to see if certain foods may be interfering with a good night sleep. After all, sleep is much more delicious than the desert you ate before bed.
To read more about Magnesium, read this article here.
To purchase the brand of Magnesium I use and recommend, click here. I choose Life Extension products because they are a non-profit organization and they do extensive research into health, anti-aging and weight loss.
