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IMPROVE YOUR SNOOZE
Sleep Aids versus Sleep Sappers
by Judith Fertig
C
an eating a whole-wheat peanut butter cracker or sipping tart cherry juice help us sleep? Either is cer-
tainly worth a try, because most of us aren’t getting enough shut-eye. According to the nonprofit National Sleep Foun- dation, 64 percent of America’s adults frequently experience sleep problems; nearly half wake up at least once during the night. This deficit of restorative rest can affect our health. “Lack of sleep can affect the im-
mune system,” says Dr. Timothy Mor- genthaler, of the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Center and an officer of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. “Studies show that people that don’t get a good night’s sleep or don’t get enough sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus, such as the common cold.”
A concept called sleep hygiene refers to good health practices that pro- mote sleep. For example: Is the room dark or quiet enough? Is the mattress comfortable? Have we allowed suf- ficient time to wind down after daily activities to become relaxed? What we eat or drink also can have a profound effect on getting a good night’s rest.
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