Sleep, if not’s not happening, how can you help it work better for you…..

Sleep, something that we all at some point take for granted.  BUT, when it is not happening properly for you or someone you love, its value is much more recognized.  

It’s a tough cycle when sleep does not occur as it should.  It can affect every single aspect of life and it is critical in our well being, not just health wise, but it can affect us in proper judgement of driving, using equipment, and how we react to things due to low mood when over tired.

So, if you find that sleep is not solid nor long enough, some digging into why needs to happen. 

I know I’ve written on sleep before, and lots of suggestion have been given.  Maybe you’ve already tried the dark cool room, less screen time before bed, limited exercise within an hour before bed, no sugary foods after dinner, nor caffeine after 2pm, etc.

However, here is a new one that I have not written about before, but you may have heard of it somewhere else, and if you have, your may already know, this is very much worth a try.  

This is adapted from a recipe called Moon Milk found in Bon Appetite and Healthish.

For Moon Milk, the milk does not mean it has to be dairy.  It can be a nut milk, just aim for unsweetened, to limit any sugar rush right before bed.  Note it is very least to make your own nut milk.  I will put something together on that in the coming weeks.

Good night recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsweetened nut milk (hemp, almond, or cashew), or can use whole milk as well
• 1/2 tsp Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 Pinch of ground nutmeg
• 2 Pinches of ground cardamom
• 1 teaspoon virgin coconut oil or ghee
• 1 teaspoon honey, preferably local
• 1 Pinch of ground ginger (optional)

Instructions:

In a small saucepan, bring milk to a simmer over medium-low heat. Whisk in all the dry spices and pepper, as well as ginger.

Whisk to get rid of clumps. Add coconut oil, reduce heat to low, and continue to cook until warmed through, 5–10 minutes.  The more time, the better the effect.  Remove from heat and cool slightly. Stir in honey at the end to avoid destroying it's healing goodness. Pour into a mug, drink warm, and climb directly into bed.

The fat in here is to help pull the medicine from the roots and herbs.  Cooking these items also supports the increase in qualities of the spices.

This recipe has the most amazing herbs - turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and cardamon.  These are anti-inflammatory, blood sugar balancing and blood circulating heros.  And… Nutmeg is a sleep enhancer. 

Coconut oil and honey are immune supports that are blended in to make an incredibly yummy treat that just happens to also tuck you into bed.

So, getting to the root of the sleep issue is key, by removing something that is not working (right now stress maybe a one of those factors), or adding in something to help reset the sleep cycle, is critical.  

Try this night time beverage, which has so many other benefits such as anti-inflammatory and supporting immune function, it just may be helpful for a good nights sleep.

Have a great week!

Lisa.