Sleep Soundly with THIS Ancient Herb
There’s NO substitute for good sleep.
There’s also no end to the consequences you can suffer when you’re not well-rested.
In the short term, you pay for lack of sleep with an elevated stress response, increased pain levels, emotional distress, mood disorders, and a reduced quality of life.
But the LONG-TERM consequences are even worse…
Lack of sleep (getting seven hours or less of sleep) is associated with various serious health problems, including an increased risk of the following:
- hypertension
- diabetes
- obesity
- depression
- heart attack
- certain cancers
- dementia
- stroke
You see, insufficient sleep activates your body’s stress response.
The result is an increase in catecholamine release (adrenaline) and an increase in adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), triggering the release of the stress hormone, cortisol.
Sleep loss is ALSO associated with decreased insulin sensitivity, reduced leptin levels (the “satiety” hormone), and increased ghrelin (the “hunger” hormone).
In fact, I believe this combination of hormonal responses to lack of sleep is at the root of the American obesity and overweight crisis.
It can even contribute to type 2 diabetes since sleep protects against insulin resistance.
But sleep drugs AREN’T the answer to your sleep problems.
They come with serious side effects like memory problems and dizziness. They’re only meant for short-term use and are even riskier for older adults.
Big Pharma can keep their lousy sleeping pills because I have a better option anyway—one that’s been clinically proven to help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and boost your quality of sleep.
Ashwagandha.
Ashwagandha (scientifically known as Withania somnifera) is one of the most revered herbs in Ayurvedic medicine (an Indian practice dating back to 6,000 BC).
Traditionally, ashwagandha was used as a rejuvenator and to promote healthy longevity. More recently, it’s earned a new nickname as nature’s #1 sleep aid.
Most ashwagandha extracts contain a one to five percent concentration of withanolides (a particularly beneficial active component in ashwagandha).
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, folks receiving a daily dose of 120 mg of ashwagandha fell asleep faster, woke up less throughout the night, and stayed asleep longer.
Plus, the ashwagandha group saw a significant improvement in sleep efficiency and total sleep time.
Numerous randomized, placebo-controlled studies show that ashwagandha extract significantly improves sleep quality, quality of life, and mental alertness.
P.S. Can’t sleep? Try these insomnia BUSTING tips.
Source: Deshpande A, et al. “A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the effects of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract on sleep quality in healthy adults.” Sleep Med. 2020 Aug;72:28-36.
