We’ve
all had those restless nights of tossing and turning, staring at the ceiling,
unable to get more than a couple hours of shuteye. The more you worry about not
sleeping, the more your mind races, and next thing you know, the sun is peeking
through the window. I’ve spent one too many nights this way and needed to put
an end to my poor sleeping patterns. I came across this delicious tea recipe
and it improved my cycle completely.
Irregular
sleeping patterns or even insomnia can stem from several different things like
depression, stress and anxiety. Almost every night, I would get into bed and my
mind would be racing. Whether I was thinking about work, family, or simply the
things I needed to get done the next day, I just couldn’t allow myself to
relax. If your mind is active, chances are you won’t fall asleep.
Certain
medications can also cause insomnia. Pain medications, antihistamines, and
heart and blood pressure medicines are among the many that contribute to sleep
loss. Yes, some meds might actually make you drowsy at first, but they can also
trigger frequent bathroom trips or anxiety which can further disturb your rest.
Whether
it’s one of these issues or maybe it’s that you’re addicted to your phone when
you should be sleeping, something needs to change.
Banana Tea
Using
only a couple items that are likely already in your kitchen, you can whip
together a banana tea in no time! This organic, banana-infused sleep remedy
works wonders and tastes so good. How does it work? Bananas, especially the
peels, are loaded with potassium and magnesium. While magnesium helps prevent
sleep disturbances, both magnesium and potassium work together to help relax
muscles. In fact, magnesium is one of the best minerals for relaxation! Keep in
mind, this recipe calls for 100% organic bananas. Bananas that are not organic
are loaded with harmful pesticides and since we encourage you to eat the boiled
peel, it must be chemical-free.
This
tea takes less than 10 minutes to prepare and can be enjoyed every night before
bed.
Ingredients
1
organic banana
1
small pot of water
a
dash of cinnamon (optional)
All
you need to do is cut off both ends of the banana and place it, peel and all,
into boiling water. Boil it for around 10 minutes. Using a colander, pour the
water into a mug. If you’re feeling adventurous, sprinkle the cinnamon into the
tea. Drink it one hour before bed time.
If
you’re worried about being wasteful, you’ve clearly never had a boiled banana
before! After the banana has been boiled, sprinkle some cinnamon over it.
Eating the warm, gooey fruit and its peel along with the tea will increase its
soothing effects… Not to mention it makes a yummy dessert!
Why Sleeping Pills Are Bad
Out
of despair, many of us have resorted to sleeping pills and with almost half of
the American population suffering from insomnia or poor sleep, it’s no wonder.
But here’s the thing: sleeping pills cannot help you long-term. They provide a
short-term fix.
The
majority of sleeping pills are a specific type of drug that induces and
maintains sleep. They’re classified as something called sedative hypnotics.
Among other sedative hypnotic drugs are benzodiazepines and barbiturates.
Benzodiazepines—like Xanax and Valium—can be addictive and are used to treat
anxiety disorders by increasing drowsiness. Barbiturates depress the central
nervous system are used as anesthetics and sedatives.
As
with all drugs, there’s a list of side effects that accompany sleeping pills.
Aside from the likeliness of them being habit-forming, they can cause the
following:
Constipation
Dizziness
Difficulty
focusing and remembering
Stomach
pain
Weakness
Uncontrollable
shaking
Parasomnias
(Doing things without realizing it… Scary!)
Sleeping
pills also cause your breathing rhythm to slow down and significantly lighten.
This means that if you’re already suffering from lung diseases like COPD or
even asthma, these meds can be dangerous and even fatal.
How Sleep Deprivation Affects the Body
Getting
less than eight hours of sleep is bad for your body. When I found out the
consequences little to no sleep had on my body, I panicked!
When
your body doesn’t get enough rest, generally less than eight hours, it suffers.
Cognitive function—your long- and short-term memory—is seriously affected. Have
you ever tried to focus on a task while running on zero fuel? I have and I know
it’s near impossible. Processing even the simplest things seems challenging and
your emotional responses to things become totally skewed. The scariest part is
that sleep deprivation has been linked to serious health problems including
obesity, diabetes and cancer.
It’s
important to figure out why you’re not sleeping the way you used to and work on
fixing it. I now look forward to this tea each night; it’s 100% natural, it
smells and tastes great, and it has worked tremendously for me.
Dr.
Oz had an episode for natural remedies for insomnia. Banana tea was mentioned
and I thought I would do a taste test to see if I would “Love it, or leave it
alone.” (Source)