We’ve
all had those restless nights of tossing and turning, staring at the
ceiling, unable to get more than a couple hours of shuteye. The more you
worry about not
sleeping, the more your mind races, and next thing you know, the sun is peeking through the window. I’ve spent one too many nights this way and needed to put an end to my poor sleeping patterns. I came across this delicious tea recipe and it improved my cycle completely.
sleeping, the more your mind races, and next thing you know, the sun is peeking through the window. I’ve spent one too many nights this way and needed to put an end to my poor sleeping patterns. I came across this delicious tea recipe and it improved my cycle completely.
Irregular
sleeping patterns or even insomnia can stem from several different
things like depression, stress and anxiety. Almost every night, I would
get into bed and my mind would be racing. Whether I was thinking about
work, family, or simply the things I needed to get done the next day, I
just couldn’t allow myself to relax. If your mind is active, chances are
you won’t fall asleep.
Certain
medications can also cause insomnia. Pain medications, antihistamines,
and heart and blood pressure medicines are among the many that
contribute to sleep loss. Yes, some meds might actually make you drowsy
at first, but they can also trigger frequent bathroom trips or anxiety
which can further disturb your rest.
Whether
it’s one of these issues or maybe it’s that you’re addicted to your
phone when you should be sleeping, something needs to change.
Banana Tea
Using
only a couple items that are likely already in your kitchen, you can
whip together a banana tea in no time! This organic, banana-infused
sleep remedy works wonders and tastes so good. How does it work?
Bananas, especially the peels,
are loaded with potassium and magnesium. While magnesium helps prevent
sleep disturbances, both magnesium and potassium work together to help
relax muscles. In fact, magnesium is one of the best minerals for
relaxation! Keep in mind, this recipe calls for 100% organic bananas.
Bananas that are not organic are loaded with harmful pesticides and
since we encourage you to eat the boiled peel, it must be chemical-free.
This tea takes less than 10 minutes to prepare and can be enjoyed every night before bed.
Ingredients
1 organic banana
1 small pot of water
a dash of cinnamon (optional)
All
you need to do is cut off both ends of the banana and place it, peel and
all, into boiling water. Boil it for around 10 minutes. Using a
colander, pour the water into a mug. If you’re feeling adventurous,
sprinkle the cinnamon into the tea. Drink it one hour before bed time.
If
you’re worried about being wasteful, you’ve clearly never had a boiled
banana before! After the banana has been boiled, sprinkle some cinnamon
over it. Eating the warm, gooey fruit and its peel along with the tea
will increase its soothing effects… Not to mention it makes a yummy
dessert!
Why Sleeping Pills Are Bad
Out
of despair, many of us have resorted to sleeping pills and with almost
half of the American population suffering from insomnia or poor sleep,
it’s no wonder. But here’s the thing: sleeping pills cannot help you
long-term. They provide a short-term fix.
The
majority of sleeping pills are a specific type of drug that induces and
maintains sleep. They’re classified as something called sedative
hypnotics. Among other sedative hypnotic drugs are benzodiazepines and
barbiturates. Benzodiazepines—like Xanax and Valium—can be addictive and
are used to treat anxiety disorders by increasing drowsiness.
Barbiturates depress the central nervous system are used as anesthetics
and sedatives.
As
with all drugs, there’s a list of side effects that accompany sleeping
pills. Aside from the likeliness of them being habit-forming, they can
cause the following:
Constipation
Dizziness
Difficulty focusing and remembering
Stomach pain
Weakness
Uncontrollable shaking
Parasomnias (Doing things without realizing it… Scary!)
Sleeping
pills also cause your breathing rhythm to slow down and significantly
lighten. This means that if you’re already suffering from lung diseases
like COPD or even asthma, these meds can be dangerous and even fatal.
How Sleep Deprivation Affects the Body
Getting less
than eight hours of sleep is bad for your body. When I found out the
consequences little to no sleep had on my body, I panicked!
When
your body doesn’t get enough rest, generally less than eight hours, it
suffers. Cognitive function—your long- and short-term memory—is
seriously affected. Have you ever tried to focus on a task while running
on zero fuel? I have and I know it’s near impossible. Processing even
the simplest things seems challenging and your emotional responses to
things become totally skewed. The scariest part is that sleep
deprivation has been linked to serious health problems including
obesity, diabetes and cancer.
It’s
important to figure out why you’re not sleeping the way you used to and
work on fixing it. I now look forward to this tea each night; it’s 100%
natural, it smells and tastes great, and it has worked tremendously for
me.
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