Snooze Foods

[x]   Tags: Sleeping Disorders, Foods for Sleep, Insomnia Cures, Tryptophan, Serotonin, Bananas, Toast, Honey, Meal Guide: Sleep Problems, Sleep Help, How to Sleep Better, Natural Sleep Aids, Sleeping Pills, Muscle Relaxants, Melatonin, Orexin, Nutritional Info, Nutrition Guide, Eating Healthy, Good Health, Health Nutrition, Body Nutrition, Nutrition Facts, Healthy Meals, Healthy Diet: Health, Health Video, Medical Videos, Medical, Video

[x]   Transcript: 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. What you might not know is that though they're common, sleep disorders can lead to some very serious health conditions, including: high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and even death. But luckily there are ways to get a healthy night's sleep without relying on prescription drugs. Foods high in nutrients that promote serotonin levels are key. Bananas, toast, and honey are all examples of foods that can help combat those sleepless nights. Bananas are a great source of potassium and magnesium, which both happen to be natural muscle relaxants. But it's their high levels of the amino acid L-tryptophan that will have you feeling drowsy. L-tryptophan gets converted to 5-HTP in the brain and that 5-HTP is then converted to serotonin and melatonin. And research has shown that both serotonin and melatonin are relaxing neurotransmitters. Warm milk is another option when you're looking to fill up on L-tryptophan. Plus, calcium also promotes sleep - A slice of toast before bed could help you get a full night's sleep too. The carbohydrates in toast will increase insulin production, which in turn helps with the release of tryptophan. Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and the Sleep Research Laboratory focused on participants with mild insomnia and found that tryptophan in doses of 1-gram or more supports sleep. Two slices of toast half an hour before bed should get that insulin production going. Honey is another food that will help with insulin production. And it will also decrease levels of orexin - a recently discovered neurotransmitter that's linked to alertness. The best way to figure out if you have a sleep disorder is to look for symptoms like snoring, trouble falling or staying asleep, irregular breathing during sleep, and feeling fatigued during daytime or waking hours. One quite obvious sign of sleep disorder or sleep deficit is when you regularly fall asleep during the daytime if you sit for a prolonged period of time. Food truly can be the cure for almost anything. To learn more about the best foods for every part of your body, check out other videos in this series.

[x]   Bio:

Amy Hendel is a popular and recognizable medical and lifestyle reporter, expert, columnist and health host. As a Health Coach, Ms. Hendel trains and councils patients with her own unique blend of nutrition, fitness, and psychology for the whole family. Her new book The 4 Habits of Healthy Families (BenBella Publishers) released in June 2010. It offers a unique family team approach for shifting habits in the home so the family becomes a "Healthy Family for Life."Amy Hendel has completed over 1000 live and taped segments covering medical and health topics, nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle issues. Noted appearances include: Today Show, The Early Show, The 700 Club, KNBC, Discovery Health, HGTV Smart Solutions, The Learning Channel, KNBC Morning and Noon News, KABC local news affiliates, EXTRA!, KTLA Evening News, and Good Day LA. She is also a print journalist and her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News. She has been a quoted guest expert in Family Circle, InStyle magazine, Fit Pregnancy. Amy is author of Fat Families Thin Families (BenBella Books 2008) and The 4 Habits of Healthy Families (2010). She has hosted her own medical talk shows on two PBS stations and hosted a radio show on Westwood One.Ms. Hendel is also certified in nutrition and exercise physiology and has combined her PA degree with this background in nutrition/exercise physiology to create a private family lifestyle therapy physician-referred practice for over 20 years.

For more information on Amy Hendel, check out HealthGal.com