Antioxidants May Help You Catch More Productive Zzzs

By Alexander Golbin, M.D. Ph.D.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, nearly seven out of 10 Americans experience frequent sleep problems, although most have not been diagnosed. The fact of the matter is that the stress of our escalating pace of life, work pressures and aging are the primary reasons many health professionals now believe that sleep disorders are the No. 1 health problem in America.

However, reaching for that bottle of prescription sleep medications may not be your best choice. They are typically "knock-out" products such as sleeping pills, tranquilizers, etc., that not only shut down the brain, but also prevent the mind from relaxing and recuperating. This is why we often feel groggy or "out of it" upon waking. Another concern is that these medications all have side effects and can be addictive. Fortunately, there are natural solutions that can not only help you get your quota of 40 winks, but also reduce sleep-robbing stress as well.

Presently, more than one in three people admit to sleeping six hours or less. Few people realize that this sleep deficit is a serious threat to their health and well-being.

We were born to sleep. Plants sleep, animals sleep and, of course, humans sleep. Have you ever wondered why getting some good shut-eye each night is an essential part of your daily rhythms? As it turns out, the ultimate rejuvenation elixir of life is sleep. It is vital for the maintenance and repair of our body and mind.

Sleep is actually a dynamic process with three distinct stages ranging from light sleep to deep sleep and, finally, to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. A complete sleep cycle takes [about] 90 minutes on average. While sleeping, our brains are using important neuronal connections that might otherwise deteriorate from lack of activity. During deep sleep, brain activity that controls emotions, decision-making processes and social interaction shuts down, allowing us to maintain optimal emotional and social functioning when we are awake. This is also the stage when cell growth and cell repair takes place to combat the effects of stress.

Sleeping deeply and waking up refreshed is a prerequisite for good health. A good night's sleep plays a critical role in strengthening the body's immune defenses. One of the body's most powerful cancer fighters, called tumor necrosis factor, increases tenfold during a good night's sleep. However, without that slumber, natural killer cells, another important part of the immune system's cancer defenses, are noticeably weakened.

Studies have also found a relationship between the quantity and quality of sleep and many health problems. For example, insufficient sleep affects growth hormone secretion that is linked to obesity. Blood pressure usually falls during the sleep cycle; however, interrupted sleep can adversely affect this normal decline, leading to hypertension and cardiovascular problems. In addition, insufficient sleep impairs the body's ability to use insulin, which can contribute to the onset of diabetes.

Difficulty sleeping is also associated with insomnia. Insomnia most commonly consists of difficulty falling asleep. It affects 20 to 40 percent of American adults at some point in their lives. In fact, 50 percent of senior citizens have difficulty falling asleep on any given night. Insomniacs also have increased production of the stress hormone cortisol, which not only prevents them from sleeping, but also leads to depression, high blood pressure, obesity, osteoporosis and hormonal imbalances such as PMS, infertility and menopausal symptoms.

A natural path to combating sleep disorders >