I did everything right. I powered down my Macbook by 9 pm, took a hot bath, and settled in with the paperback I picked up on my last trip. Halfway through the first chapter, I felt my eyelids getting heavy and turned out the bedside lamp, ready to get my 8 hours.
Flash forward to a little after midnight, when I’d just finished making another mental to-do list for my upcoming book launch. I’d spent two hours laying in the dark reviewing everything from my son’s school schedule to what I would wear for a big meeting the next morning. Even though I knew I needed sleep, I just couldn’t seem to turn off my brain.
Staying up all night wasn’t an option considering my packed agenda for the next day, and that’s when I decided to start researching what nutrients might help me get to sleep without a hangover or side effects.
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Why Sleep Matters
Before that night, I was already very aware of how vital it is to get consistent sleep. I’ve been writing about sleep for a while now because research proves that 7-9 hours of quality, uninterrupted sleep every night is absolutely necessary for effective, lasting weight loss.1
There are a few very unique individuals who are genetically coded to function on less sleep. (And believe me, you already know if you’re one of them!)
The rest of us make excuses about why our schedule is too hectic to fit in more sleep, when the exact opposite is true: the busier you are, the more quality rest you need to maintain your hormonal health, fight inflammation and infection, and avoid disease.2,3
In fact, going sleep-deprived for even ONE night raises hormone levels that make you hungrier, more anxious, and more likely to gain weight.4,5 There’s a reason we all know the phrase “midnight snack”! Now imagine what it’s doing when you miss out on your z’s for multiple nights in a row…
How to Get Great Sleep
Even if you understand that getting 7-9 hours every night is key for your focus and physical health, that doesn’t mean falling and staying asleep always comes easy. Everything from menopause to massive work deadlines can cause insomnia.
Back to that sleepless night I mentioned earlier. As I rummaged around my medicine cabinet for the supplements that might help, I had a brainstorm. The result was Sleep Candy™, a safe, all-natural way to fall and stay asleep.
Sleep Candy™ uses smart science to enhance your body’s own ability to fall and stay asleep. It starts with melatonin, a hormone that your body already makes to keep you awake during the day and asleep at night.
Then there’s 5-HTP and vitamin B6, which encourage your body’s production of melatonin and other neurotransmitters related to sleep. Finally, Sleep Candy’s formula also includes inositol and L-theanine, both of which can reduce stress hormones and support overall relaxation. *
The result is lemony-flavored chewable tablets that help you feel calm and ready to rest without side effects or any chance of addiction. I keep a bottle on my nightstand at home and one permanently stashed in my overnight bag so I never have to worry about getting caught without it.
Remember, Sleep Candy is a great ally, but it’s not magic. You’ve still got to develop good sleep hygiene habits. If you need help building a healthy nighttime routine, check out this blog post with tips for 7 Easy Ways to Fall and Stay Asleep.
But if you’re doing everything else right and still need a little nudge to help you fall or stay asleep, try Sleep Candy™. There’s so many amazing benefits to getting quality sleep every night, and you deserve to look and feel your best.
Sleep struggles happen to us all! Our Sleep Support Bundle combines 2 powerful, effective formulas: Sleep Candy™ (with melatonin and other sleep-support nutrients) and Magnesium Body Calm (to help you unwind and drift into sleep).* The end result is deep, restorative sleep every single night.* Get the bundle here.
The views in this blog by JJ Virgin should never be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Please work with a healthcare practitioner concerning any medical problem or concern. The information here is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or condition. Statements contained here have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
References
1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2831987/
2 http://science.sciencemag.org/content/342/6156/373
3 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1038/oby.2011.100/full
4 http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.0010062
5 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20371664
