HEALTHY LIVING


How to Beat Insomnia


M


ore than 40 million Americans are chronically sleep- deprived, which is


fueling the nation’s $2 billion-a-year sleeping pill industry, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But sleep medications are often


ineffective and can cause serious side effects. Perhaps most frightening, new research has linked prescription and over-the-counter sleeping aids to Alzheimer’s disease.


ALZHEIMER’S CONNECTION A recent study, by the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, found the sleeping medication Nytol and anti-allergy pills Benadryl and Piriton have “anticholinergic” blocking effects on the nervous system that significantly boost the


Without Drugs Sleep medications are often ineffective and can cause serious side effects, including Alzheimer’s and cancer. ::


odds of developing dementia. In addition, new research published in the British Medical Journal noted an increased risk of cancer and death in people who regularly take sleeping pills. “Older adults should be aware


that many medications — including some available without a prescription, such as over-the-counter sleep aids — have strong anticholinergic effects,” Shelly Gray, director of the geriatric pharmacy program at the University of Washington, told The Guardian newspaper.


PHARMACEUTICALS’ FALSE PROMISE


Erika Schwartz, M.D., a leading national wellness expert and Newsmax contributor, says it is the first impulse of too many Americans to reach for the medicine cabinet


when they have sleep trouble. Conventional physicians often


encourage the trend, by readily writing prescriptions before recommending proven drug-free alternatives, including healthy lifestyle changes, natural compounds, and supplements that can all be safer alternatives. “Research consistently


demonstrates that taking sleeping pills is not a healthy way to get those much-needed seven to eight hours of sleep a night,” says Schwartz. “In fact, the more sleeping pills people take, the more likely they are to become addicted and the less likely they are to get a good night’s sleep. Also, the more sleeping medications taken, the more likely the occurrence of dangerous side effects, including problems with mental acuity, harmful interactions with other drugs, and even death.”


The good news? A variety of drug-free ways can help you get a good night’s sleep. Chamomile


Valerian root Chamomile flower


powder — either taken as a supplement or brewed into tea — has helped people sleep better for literally thousands of years, and recent scientific


research has confirmed it has a calming effect that helps prepare the body and mind for slumber. The Food and Drug Administration has deemed


it to be safe. 92 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | MARCH 2024 The powdered extract


from this medicinal plant is a powerful sedative and anxiety reducer that has been used by traditional healers since the Roman era. An analysis of more than a dozen studies found this natural remedy helps people fall asleep faster and more deeply than pharmaceutical pills.


Magnesium Even small deficiencies


of this essential mineral can prevent the brain from calming down at night, research shows. Many Americans don’t get enough magnesium. It is found in green leafy vegetables, wheat germ, pumpkin seeds, almonds, and is available in supplements. Look for supplements that


contain the mineral in the form of magnesium oxide.


Calcium


Warm milk is loaded with calcium, which plays a key role in sleep. In addition, milk and other dairy products contain tryptophan, an amino acid that drives the production of serotonin and melatonin — brain chemicals that help you relax and sleep. Calcium citrate malate supplements can also aid sleep.


VALERIAN/PLAINVIEW©ISTOCK / ALL OTHERS©FREEPIK


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