Have you ever woken up after several hours of sleep to find yourself still groggy? I have.
It’s intuitive to think that a long sleep should leave you feeling regenerated and refreshed but in reality, it’s not just about the amount of time you spend asleep; it’s about the quality of that sleep as well.
A study done by the Sleep Foundation found that although the average American sleeps for 7 hours and 36 minutes each night, 35% report their sleep quality as ‘poor’ or ‘only fair.’
20% of the Americans surveyed said they did not wake up feeling refreshed during the week prior to the study.
The Solution: Honey & Himalayan Salt
In addition to a variety of lifestyle changes you can make to increase your sleep quality, honey and himalayan salt can work wonders for making sure you get a deep sleep each night.
All you’ll need are 5 teaspoons of honey and one teaspoon of Himalayan salt.
Mix the two together and store in a glass jar. When you’re ready to go to sleep, take one spoonful of the mixture and place it under your tongue. Let it dissolve naturally.
Himalayan salt contains about 84 minerals and trace minerals, one of which is magnesium. Magnesium works by reducing the amount of cortisol – the stress hormone – in your brain, allowing you to relax and get a deep sleep.
The raw honey is no slouch either; it supports your body as you sleep and helps heal your liver as well as various cells in your body.
According to Health, Wild and Free:
“Taking a spoonful of raw honey before sleep supplies your liver with glycogen storage when supports your liver in detoxification, circulation, hormone regulation and other functions to restore your body during rest. Additionally raw honey also contributes to melatonin being released in the brain which is an important sleep hormone for high-quality sleep.”
Don’t forget to make some lifestyle changes too! Here are a few things that affect sleep quality.
1. Technology Use – Using your computer, tablet, phone or TV before bed causes serotonin and melatonin production to offset.
The problem occurs because your brain is tricked by the light from your screen into thinking the sun is still up.
2. Eating – Eating too close to bedtime can also disrupt sleep quality. This is because, instead of powering down, your body is forced to digest your food. Eat no less than 3 hours before bed.
3. Working Too Late – Working right up to the time you’re ready for sleep prevents your brain from entering the resting state it needs. It’s important to let your brain power down by focusing on more relaxing activities. Consider reading or listening to calming music.