Nutrition That Helps You Look & Feel Good and Sleep Better
Nobody will tell you they don’t want to look good, feel good and sleep better. These are things people wish for on a daily basis. When you don’t get enough sleep, you don’t look good or feel good. If you don’t feel good, you’re not going to look good or sleep good. But, if you aren’t eating a good diet, you aren’t going to accomplish any of the three. The three things that would make you feel much better about your whole being are interconnected and if you aren’t achieving straight As in even one of those areas then it could be your diet.
Here’s a look at how nutrition impacts how you look, feel and sleep.
Your Energy Level
The first step in feeling good is having energy. When you wake up feeling sluggish it’s a challenge to meet your goals for the day. If you’re regularly waking up feeling like you aren’t getting a decent night’s rest, you probably aren’t.
It could be due to many things, but the first and easiest thing you should try to fine tune is your diet. Once you put some energy pumping nutrition in your body, you should roll through your day tirelessly so that you end up sleeping like a baby that night. To help you get started on the energy front, try a supplement like LCR Health Telogenesis. Reviewers claim they were surprised at the amount of energy these natural supplements provided to get them through the day.
Your Skin
The health of you skin has an impact on your overall appearance. If your skin is dry and cracking or flaky, no amount of makeup is going to make you look great. Lotions and moisturizers will help, though the benefit is temporary.
What you put in your mouth has the potential to really make your skin glow. Omega-3 is an important nutrient for your whole body, and since your body can’t produce it, it’s a good idea to make it a staple in your diet. The health benefits have been well-studied and documented. It can even help promote good skin health.
Omega-3 fatty acids contain DHA. DHA is important to the health of the cells that make up your skin. When there is plenty of DHA, your skin will feel soft and smooth. DHA nourishes and hydrates your skin while helping reduce wrinkles.
Omega-3 can also help protect your skin from the sun, reduce acne and help manage your skin’s oil production. This nutrient is abundant in fish, but it can be found in other places as well. If you’re not a fan of fish, or you’re a vegetarian, you can still benefit from omega-3 through several plant sources. Brussel sprouts, flaxseeds and walnuts all contain omega-3 and can provide the same benefits to your skin.
Your Hair
Someone with great hair tends to look great all over. Dry, brittle hair is unattractive, yet many people have to contend with it. Shampooing daily, heat from hot irons and blow dryers, as well as styling products are all contributors to damaged hair.
For beautiful, glossy and healthy hair, it’s a good idea to adopt a whole new hair care plan. Not only should you cut back on the washings, heat and products, but you should also eat for your hair. Omega-3 makes it into this category as well. Not only does your hair need it in order to grow, but it also contributes to its healthy shine.
Vitamin B5, found in beans, nuts, poultry and most vegetables, can help with blood flow to your scalp which stimulates hair growth as well. Another possible benefit of this vitamin is it may protect against thinning and loss of hair. Other foods that help contribute to shine and health include whole grains like brown rice and oats. So, next time you go grocery shopping, don’t just think of your tummy, but also remember your hair!
Your Health
Everyone knows you should always eat a balanced diet and incorporate the five food groups. Yet, not everyone does it. The reason scientists and nutritionists have made these recommendations is so you can keep your body healthy and strong. Try to get your nutrients from a variety of sources, because variety really is the spice of life.
But, while you’re at it, lay off boxed and frozen meals because they don’t have the same nutritional quality as foods you prepare from fresh ingredients. In fact, they can even harm you if they are ultra-processed. These meals provide your body with extra sugar, artificial ingredients, and trans fats. All of those things are capable of making you feel bad and provide no nutritional value.
While boxed diets are bad, you’ve probably heard a Mediterranean diet is good, and it is. Part of what makes the Mediterranean diet healthy is the incorporation of olive oil instead of saturated fats such as lard and butter, both of which many Americans grew up on. When cooking, start substituting all other oils and butters for olive oil.
Some really good news is you should also incorporate dark chocolate into your diet. It’s rich in antioxidants and can lower your risk of heart disease. Can you say, “More dark chocolate, please?”
Your Sleep Schedule
If you struggle to fall asleep at night, it’s likely impacting how you feel when you wake. There are some natural nutrients you can add to your diet to help you feel more restful when your head hits the pillow.
Chamomile tea is not only delicious, but it has a calming effect on your brain, helping you to settle in for a peaceful night. It contains an antioxidant called apigenin which binds to certain receptors in the brain that are believed to relieve stress and anxiety.
Another trick you can try is drinking milk before you go to bed. Milk contains melatonin, a natural hormone produced by the brain when the environment is dark. If you sleep with the light on, it may be interfering with your body’s internal clock. Last, to help you stay asleep, try eating kiwis before bed as well. Kiwis contain serotonin and antioxidants that some research shows may help improve your quality of sleep. It’s worth a try.
Looking great, feeling great and getting enough sleep are all goals that are within your grasp. You’re just going to have to change some habits. It can be difficult to adapt to a new way of doing things, but in this case, it’s a change that is going to reap great rewards. Imagine if next week you start a new nutrient-rich diet and wake up every day feeling rested and ready to have a go at the world. It would be worth it, wouldn’t it?
Food and what we consume can play a massive role in our sleep quantity and quality. If you are struggling with regulating your slumbers, there are many steps that you can take in your daily life by altering your diet and nutrition. You can take back control of your snoozing and enjoy better sleep if you find the right adjustments to your diet, so don’t wait another moment suffering through sleep.
A good quality sleep may seem difficult to come by, but tweaking your diet is one of the very best ways to achieve this. Avoiding the food that keeps you awake and restless, and adding foods that promote a healthy sleep cycle will have you falling asleep peacefully in no time.
For all your sleep troubles, Alaska Sleep Clinic has a blog with answers you are looking for to your health questions. Sign up to receive ASC’s daily sleep blog below. Our website received over 5 million visits last year alone, making www.AlaskaSleep.com one of the top 5 sites in the world for sleep education.