Do you know that sleep is really important for everyone? Everyone needs to get enough sleep to function well and avoid stress. Have you measured the number of hours you sleep each night? Do you have a good sleep each night? Health professionals advise that the recommended number of hours for each person to sleep each night is around seven to nine hours. However, the majority of adults do not get this basic need filled due to some sort of commitment or long hours at work, or some might have insomnia that keeps them awake and unable to sleep.
You need the right amount for your body
Why do you need seven to nine hours of sleep each night? When you stay up too late, your neurons' signals slow and impair memory, attention, thought processes, and decision-making. If sleep is poor, it can also disrupt hormones and affect mood. However, if the sleep is good, a lot of toxins like those associated with Alzheimer's can be successfully removed from the brain while you are asleep. So, what happens if you have too much sleep then? If you have too much sleep, it can result in the same problems as too little. This includes a higher risk of stroke, cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, and various mental health disorders like depression. When you do not get enough sleep, you can develop other mental health disorders like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and anxiety. It might not be that simple. In some cases, sleep problems and deprivation might precede the development of a mental health disorder, and this could put a person at a higher risk.
What kinds of foods can improve sleep quality?
Cacao was once one of the most coveted foods in all of South America. It was known as "food of the gods" back in the ancient civilizations, as the Aztecs and Mayans believed that the cacao plant was a sacred medicine and could banish negative thoughts and emotions from the body. Today, most people have only experienced chocolate through a sugary candy bar or a piece of dark chocolate, and most of them have never experienced the undeniable brain-boosting powers of chocolate in its purest form, raw cacao powder.
Raw cacao is classified as a vasodilator, which means it has the ability to widen blood vessels and improve blood flow throughout the body. When vasodilation occurs, your blood pressure drops and you start to feel calmer and more relaxed. Raw cacao also contains a decent amount of magnesium, which can relax the mind and body due to its calming effect on the nervous system, and if you have a cup of cacao latte before going to bed, you will get into sleep a lot easier.
Cacao contains a wide array of feel-good chemicals called phenethylamine (PEA), which is known as the "love chemical" as it is what is released by your brain when you fall in love. Another one of these feel-good chemicals is called Anandamide, which is referred to as the "bliss chemical". Whenever you feel great about something, such as accomplishing a big goal, your brain gives out a little extra anandamide, which you will feel good about. Cacao also contains serotonin and tryptophan, which are chemicals that have been linked to reducing symptoms of depression as well as promoting better sleep and a better mood. Cacao is a superfood with lots of hidden gems that people have yet to discover. It is highly recommended that people should discover the potent mental, physical, and spiritual benefits of cacao powder by having a cacao latte as their morning coffee substitute and letting it play a key role in their diet.
How to get better sleep?
Apart from Cacao and your diet, you need to establish a regular and sustainable routine that you can achieve. When you go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day, it helps train the brain. This has been proven to help a person fall asleep easier, deeper and better.
In order to have a better sleep, you should avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine for at least a few hours before going to bed. Or, you can find something relaxing to do an hour before lying down. There are many different ways to improve sleep quality, including relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing to help your mind ease into falling asleep. However, if your symptoms persist for quite a bit of time, you might need to seek medical advice from a professional to help address the root cause of it.
