If the current news cycle is creating anxiety and robbing you of sleep, you are not alone. According to Quartz, google searches for the term “insomnia” hit an all time high during the pandemic. Lauren Rashap, nutritionist, author and founder of Lauren Living Healthy, offers some advice to those feeling sleep deprived.
Sleep accounts for 1/3 of our lives
It is where we spend the much needed time to heal and repair the body. When we’re in stress mode and that sympathetic system is blasting, not only are we having difficulty falling asap and staying asleep, but we are reducing the time spent in the Delta stage necessary for lowering blood pressure, promoting tissue growth and repair and releasing that symphony of hormones essential for growth, anti-aging and muscle development.
Limit screen time
Hours spent in front of any electronic device not only exposes you to sleep disruptive blue light, but also to EMF radiation. My advice is to turn off all electronics 2 hours before bed and reconnect with your parasympathetic nervous system by stimulating your Vagus nerve, which is the longest nerve in the body. A low vagal response can lead to vitamin B deficiency, a difficulty in eliminating toxins from your body and even depression.
Take a deep breath
Suffice it to say that Vagus nerve stimulation occurs when the breath is slowed from our typical 10-14 breaths per minute to 5-7 breaths per minute. You can achieve this by an inhalation to the count of 5, hold briefly, and exhale to a count of 6 or do the 4, 7, 8 breath above 5-7 rounds. If you don’t have blue light glasses, they are a must. Also, blue light screens on all electronic devices prevent eye fatigue and may help with macular degeneration.
For more of Lauren’s tips on sleep as well as advice on stress, superfoods and supplements, check out her COVID wellness seminar.
Lauren Rashap
Owner, Lauren Living Healthy
Lauren Rashap is a third generation health practitioner with over 18 years in private practice. A certified clinical nutritionist and yoga and meditation instructor, Lauren developed one of the first, full-service “traveling spas.” She is the founder of Lauren Living Healthy, author of the book, “Vibrant Skin at Any Age,” and an award winning speaker.
