Dr. Scott’s #1 Sleep Trick
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted December 24, 2018
It’s Christmas Eve — and soon the little ones will be asleep, with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads.
But for lots of us, sleep doesn’t come quite that easily.
Especially as we get older, getting a solid eight hours of shut-eye every night can be a real challenge.
So like lots of folks, you’re tempted to reach for those sleeping pills.
But I’m here to tell you… DON’T do it.
Sleeping pills are NOT your answer to chronic insomnia.
Instead, let me show you my #1 sleep trick that can help you get the sleep you need… EVERYTIME.
*****
Let’s say you didn’t follow my advice and you took that sleeping pill.
While your eyes closed after you popped that pill, what happens next is NOT the same as normal sleep.
There is a price to pay for that popped pill the next day – you feel dazed and like you were hit by a truck.
Sleeping pills put you in a state of unconsciousness, but it is not the same as sleep – it is more like being knocked out in the boxing ring.
“Sleeping pill sleep” has been shown to lack the restorative value of natural sleep.
That’s because sleeping pills don’t clear your brain, boost your immune system, or help stabilize your mood.
Even worse? You still crave carbohydrates – just like missing a night’s sleep.
Studies have shown that daytime grogginess, impaired memory, even increased the risk of cancers and sudden death are associated with taking sleeping pills.
So, why bother?
Before I tell you the trick, let’s start by making sure you are using good sleep hygiene rules:
- Sleep in a dark room, and use white noise like a fan or sound machine.
- Try to go to bed the same time every night.
- Get off your screens (all of them) at least an hour or more before going to sleep – the light that screens emit can alter your sleep pattern.
- Good exercise makes your body more restful at night. If you can, exercise hard during the day – the harder the better.
- Replace your coffee with green tea. Green tea contains an amino acid called theanine which helps keep you calm and improves sleep.
- Melatonin is the best natural substance to get your circadian cycle back on track. It’s widely available as a supplement.
- There are great herbs to calm you down and help you get a good night’s sleep, including lemon balm, hops, passionflower, and chamomile.
Okay, here is the sleep trick: try cutting back on sleep temporarily. You do this by getting out of bed at the same time every day (no cheating), but staying up at least two hours later than you normally do – you want to be very sleepy when you hit the bed.
Do this for 3-4 nights and then return to your normal bed time.
Studies show it works much better than sleeping pills, and it kicks you into a good sleep habit.
Health and Happiness,
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: feedback@livingwelldaily.com – and click here to like us on Facebook.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
View More Free Articles
This Sleep Mistake Is Doubling Your Disease Risk
Think your inconsistent bedtime is just a harmless habit? Think again. New research reveals that going to bed at different times each night isn’t just making you tired—it could be dramatically increasing your risk of serious diseases. But the key to making sure poor sleep doesn’t derail your health goals likely isn’t what you think…....
Stop Obsessing Over Diet Trends
Can we stop with the endless diet debates already? Every other week there’s a new headline shouting about which diet is best for weight loss, heart health, or diabetes. Paleo, keto, low-carb, high-protein… it’s exhausting. And now, a new meta-analysis is out comparing the Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet, and something called AHEI (that’s “Alternative...
A New Reason to Ditch Processed Junk
If you’ve ever walked the inside aisles of your local grocery store and thought, “This is all just junk,” your instincts were spot on. A new study published in the journal Thorax just added another red flag to the list of dangers linked to ultra-processed food—a 41 percent higher risk of lung cancer. That’s right....
When Being Winded on Stairs Is Serious (And When It Isn’t)
I had an athlete visit me recently because he experienced shortness of breath while climbing stairs. He is in great shape, so he was worried about what it might mean. “Doc,” he said, “I run five miles three times a week. Why am I huffing and puffing after two flights of stairs?” His concern is...
Study EXPOSES Hidden Danger Lurking in Your Car
We think of our homes and cars as safe havens. But according to a startling new study, they may be flooding your lungs with microscopic plastic particles—every single day. Researchers in France recently found that adults inhale an average of 68,000 microplastic particles daily from indoor air alone. To put that in perspective, that’s about...
Mailbag: Is Modern Food Making You Snore?
“What can cause snoring, and is there a way to correct this issue?” —Seeking Silence Hi Seeking, Snoring happens when the soft tissues in your throat relax and vibrate as air passes through during sleep. While several factors can cause snoring—from sleep position to nasal congestion—I want to share one trigger that might surprise you....
Simple Food Swap SLASHES Dementia Risk 28%
Let’s be honest… who would jump at the chance to cut their dementia risk by 28 percent. And no, you don’t need to run marathons, survive on broccoli, or learn to play the zither (whatever that is) to make it happen. All it takes is one easy swap—something that’s probably already in your refrigerator. Researchers...
This SMART Floss Exposes Hidden Health Danger
Scientists have created dental floss that doesn’t just clean between your teeth—it also tracks your stress while you’re flossing. Now, I know what you’re thinking… “Great—now even flossing is going to stress me out by telling me how stressed I am.” But this fascinating new tool from Tufts University could be a game-changer for understanding...
Is This "Safe" Sweetener Damaging Your Brain?
The headlines are alarming… “Popular Sugar Substitute Linked to Brain Cell Damage” and “Erythritol Could Damage Critical Brain Barrier” are just two of the dozens I’ve spotted recently. But before you toss every sugar-free product in your pantry, let’s take a closer look at what this study actually shows—and what it doesn’t. The latest research...
This Summer Threat Could SPIKE Your Blood Sugar
Picture this… It’s another scorching hot summer day. You crank up the air conditioning while watching the weather forecast, which predicts yet another “record-breaking” heat wave. It’s starting to feel like just another miserably uncomfortable summer. But what you might not realize is that—if you have diabetes—those rising temps could do far more damage to...