There is always new information coming out about the importance of sleep. Recent studies have shown that sleep is important for weight loss, hypertension, chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, depression and heart disease. Sleep will not only ensure that you are happy, it will also have a major impact on your overall health.
The problem is that few people actually manage to sleep well. Approximately 25% of people suffer from chronic or occasional insomnia. There are a range of factors that affect our sleep from crying children to overly busy lives or even an uncomfortable mattress – try aireloom if this is the case. However, there are times when certain vitamins could be causing problems with your sleep. There are certain vitamins that you need to have in order to get a good night’s rest which means taking supplements could be the difference between a good night’s rest and restlessness.
Iron
Most people know that iron is important for energy, but fewer people realize that having an iron deficiency can make you tired while increasing the likelihood of Restless Leg Syndrome. People who have this condition will suffer from witching and constant movement sensations in their legs which is more noticeable when they want to go to sleep.
A lot of people actually have an unrecognized iron deficiency that does not show on regular blood counts. Low iron levels can be remedied with the correct vitamins and supplements. When you overcome this efficiency, your restless leg could disappear and your sleep could be better.
Melatonin
Melatonin is known to be essential for sleep. This is the hormone that our brains secrete when it is telling the body that it is time to go to sleep. If your natural sleep cycle has been disturbed for any reason including jet lag, melatonin will be used to help get your body back on track. It is possible to take a natural supplement 30 minutes before bed to help naturally reset your sleep cycle. This will help your body relearn when it should be going to sleep.
Magnesium
Magnesium is actually one of the most impressive vitamins out there and it has a dual role in sleep. This vitamin may help with the brain mechanism which allows us to fall asleep. It is also essential for helping with muscle cramps which could keep you awake or result in poor sleep. When you correct a magnesium deficiency, you will not only help your body fall asleep, you will be getting rid of painful cramps as well.
Vitamin B12
Neuropathy is something that is often experienced by people who have a deficiency in vitamin B12. This is something that is common among people taking medication for acid reflux, vegetarians and vegans. Neuropathy will result in tingling and burning pain in the hands and feet. These symptoms will generally be worse at night and will reach their peak while you are trying to sleep. You can overcome these issues by correcting your vitamin B12 deficiency.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a vitamin that is needed for a range of different body processes. The more people find out about this vitamin, the more important it seems to become. We know that a lack of vitamin D can cause fatigue as well as muscle aches. Both of these issues will affect the sleep that we get.
Muscle aches will make it harder to get to sleep and to have a good night’s sleep. Fatigue will generally make it easier to fall to sleep, but it will increase the amount of sleep that we feel we need. More sleep is not actually a good thing as it can cause a range of additional problems.
A deficiency in vitamin D will not only affect your sleep. It has also been found to affect bone density, the immune system and memory. This is one of the reasons why it is important that you overcome this deficiency with supplements or through natural means.