Nighttime Secret Could REDUCE Death Risk by 13%
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted August 15, 2020
Dear Reader,
I think there’s one thing we can all agree on:
We all want to live a long, healthy life.
But making this a reality is can feel like it’s easier said than done. You have to eat the right foods, get enough exercise, take the right supplements, watch your blood pressure, your sugars, your weight…
The list becomes endless.
And, don’t get me wrong, these are all important when it comes to your health. But there’s one crucial, nighttime secret that could LENGTHEN your lifespan…
Sleep is important.
In fact, most people don’t realize just how IMPORTANT sleep is for their long-term health.
Good sleep helps to restore and repair your body.
The most restorative of your sleep phases is a period called REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. This is a period where your eyes move rapidly (hence the name).
Study after study has shown a simple formula: the less REM sleep you have, the less healthy you are.
In fact, a new study from researchers at the University of California San Diego, who published their work in the journal JAMA Neurology, found a strong link between the amount of REM sleep and the risk for death in middle age and older adults.
The research team found that over a 12-year period, each 5 percent reduction in REM sleep was associated with a 13 percent increase in mortality rate from all causes.
That means people who didn’t sleep well had INCREASED risk for death from cancer, heart disease… they even had more accidents.
This is a problem because between 50 and 70 million Americans have a problem with sleep. (Just look at how many advertisements you see for sleep aids!)
There are a multitude of consequences for your health for not getting your 40 winks, including heart disease, mental problems, cognitive disorders, lower quality of life, bad moods, and crazy cravings.
Clearly, we all need more, good quality sleep.
The good news is there are things you can do to support more REM sleep.
Here’s where you can start:
Dr. Scott’s Better-Sleep Program:
- Exercise is one of the best paths to a good night’s sleep. When your body is physically tired, your mind has no choice but to give in. Find an exercise you love and increase how much you are exercising when you feel stressed.
- Avoid caffeine in the afternoon: this means coffee, tea, chocolate, and energy drinks.
- Sleeping alone is another option for people who are woken up by their mate. The National Sleep Foundation found that nearly 25 percent of couples sleep in separate beds.
- Calming herbs such as hops, passionflower, lemon balm, chamomile, and valerian all help relax the body and mind.
- Theanine is an amino acid found in green tea that helps people feel calm.
- Melatonin is a hormone that promotes good sleep and is well known to increase REM sleep.
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
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...
Move Over Yogurt—5 Foods That Pack MORE Probiotics
Let’s talk about your gut. The microbiome is the collection of trillions of bacteria and other tiny organisms that live in and on your body—especially in your gut—and help keep you healthy. I’ve written often about how vital it is to maintain a healthy microbiome. And you might have dutifully added yogurt to your shopping...