How to sleep: Try doing this to avoid insomnia says doctor on ITV This Morning
SLEEP can sometimes be difficult to get, but it is something we all need. If you don’t sleep for long enough you can develop insomnia. Symptoms of this condition include difficulty falling asleep, waking up too early and daytime tiredness. Dr Nerina, on ITV’s This Morning, recommended changing these habits to get to sleep.
Sleep is important and something that we all need.
The NHS estimates that an adult can need as much as seven to nine hours a night, and significantly more is required for children.
If you don’t get enough sleep you could develop insomnia, caused by lack of sleep.
Symptoms of this condition include feeling tired, having difficulty paying attention to day to day tasks, and increased errors or accidents in your work.
Speaking to someone that suffers from insomnia on ITV’s This Morning, Dr Nerina had these tips.
Dump the word “sleep"
She said she wanted the sufferer to replace the word “sleep” with the word “rest” in their day to day lives.
“You’re banned from using the word sleep, start using the word rest,” she said to the sufferer.
Eat in the morning
Dr Nerina also recommended eating every morning when you wake up, to help your sleep in the evenings.
“If you eat first thing it tells your body you’re safe,” she said.
“It also stabilises blood sugar.”
She said you should steer clear of trying to run on tea/coffee and caffeine in the morning, the first thing you should do is eat.
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Don't measure your sleep
Another habit the doctor recommended binning is measuring how much sleep you get.
The problem with this is it can stress you out when you’re trying to sleep, making it harder to sleep.
“You can get obsessed [if you do this],” she said.
Turning to the Insomnia sufferer on This Morning she advised them to stop measuring their sleep and “reset” it immediately.
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There are loads of different tips to help you sleep better.
Snacking on sunflower seeds before bed could help you get a better sleep as they’re rich in proteins.
Although it’s a relatively rare protein, you can still top up on the chemical by snacking on sunflower seeds before bed, according to The Sleep Council.
Magnesium supplements could also help you fall asleep by fighting fatigue and stress, according to natural health company, BetterYou.
“Seven in 10 of us suffer from low levels of magnesium,” said BetterYou founder, Andrew Thomas.
“It’s a fact that we don’t get enough from our daily diet, and so a supplement that gets straight to where it’s needed is the way to recharge our systems.