HEALTH REPORT
Insomnia is a nightmare. But you’re not alone – it affects around 15 per cent of Australians. Try our ideas to get more shut-eye. get more z z z z s
WAKE UP AT THE SAME TIME Looking forward to a weekend sleep-in to recover from your accumulated lost sleep during the week? Research from the University of Colorado suggests that this isn’t a good idea. “The key message from this study is that weekend ‘catch-up’ sleep is not an effective countermeasure strategy to reverse sleep loss- induced disruptions of metabolism,’’ explains Dr Kenneth Wright, Jr. “The best way to recover from your ‘sleep debt’ is to go to bed earlier and then wake at your normal time.” Don’t eat two hours before bed According to Michael Crupain, co-author of What to Eat When , your circadian rhythm is set by the sun and you should eat in line with that. Put simply, you should eat when the sun is up and fast when it is not. Be cautious about taking any over-the-counter medications – some may contain caffeine, a stimulant. A drink may make you feel relaxed, but the effects soon wear off and you’re more likely to have to get up to use the bathroom. Check all labels Avoid alcohol
14
ISSUE 57 • 2020
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog