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Why you should stand by the fridge in your pyjamas
13th January 2006
Today's letter contains some of the nicest remedies I've ever had the joy to come across...
Eating ice cream, tucking into apple pie, enjoying a biscuit... they all get a mention here today.
All that's missing to make this letter perfect is proof that watching the 'Wales Grand Slam 2005 Year of the Dragon' DVD repeatedly can improve your health.
I know whenever I watch it (twice since I got it for Christmas) I feel less stress, my heart rate improves, and my levels of happiness soar.
I'm sorely tempted to put a link here so you can buy this dvd yourself, but I guess its 'magical powers' only work for me.
In fact, in a splitblind test, it only scored a 50% success rate, because Lara fell asleep next to me while it was on.
I suppose you can't have it all.
Trouble is, she was asleep for so long that when it came to going to bed, she was wide awake, nudging me and asking 'are you awake?' in the dead of night.
I wasn't, until she'd hit me in the ribs a couple of times.
Still, at least it was a oneoff for me.
Whereas for some people, EVERY night is a sleepless night...
And new research suggests that this problem could have an adverse effect on the brain.
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Are rats the new 'man's best friend?'
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I can't quite picture people throwing sticks for faithful rat to fetch, but rats are helping scientists understand (and tackle) a whole range of ailments including the effects of sleeplessness.
According to a recent study carried out on rats at the University of California Stanford University, a lack of sleep can make our brains 'older'.
Here's what happens.
You've heard the saying 'you learn something new every day', right?
Well, whether it's working out the quickest route to a friend's new house, or working out to put an IKEA bookcase together, learning something new helps the brain produce new cells.
But like anything newborn, they're quite vulnerable in the early stages, and sleep helps them survive.
Back to those rats again...
Sleeprestricted rats had difficulty remembering a newly learned route through a maze than their wellrested counterparts, who found it comparatively easy. The new brain cells developed by learning this new route also died off quicker in the sleeprestricted rats.
So it's clear that good, solid sleep is vital for the brain to rejuvenate and function properly. Of course, we're talking about rats here.
But scientists wouldn't bother with these tests if they didn't think there was some connection to the way our brains function. So a good night's sleep is vital... not just for reasons of energy and rest, but because without it, our brains won't regenerate. So what's the answer?
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The repetitive stress injury of doctors
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I've looked high and low, but just can't seem to find any current figures on sleep disorders and insomnia.
But even 14 years ago the situation was alarming, and I can't believe it's improved much since then.
In the UK in 1992, doctors wrote 12 million prescriptions for sleeping pills.
Twelve MILLION!
At that rate you'd expect to see doctors walking around with their writinghand in a splint.
That seems like an awful lot of pills that, at a guess, will force people to sleep rather than help their bodies induce sleep naturally.
So, instead of turning to manmade pills to solve the problem, try these tips to help sleep come naturally...
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Why you should stand by the fridge in your pyjamas
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NEVER eat before bedtime. That's what they say isn't it?
In fact I've problem said it right here in these letters at some point or other, and I think it's a good rule as a whole.
However, if you suffer from sleeplessness, eating something just before bedtime could help you overcome your problem.
You see, foods that are high in carbohydrates and calcium, and medium-to-low in protein can help the body feel sleepy. So why not try some of these treats an hour or so before you switch the lights off...
- Apple pie and ice cream! Yes, it's true. Eating a piece of apple pie with ice cream can really help you get a good night's sleep!
- Whole-grain cereal with warm milk
- Two oatmeal and raisin biscuits with a glass of milk
If you feel sleeplessness is a problem you suffer from, try one of these bedtime snacks tonight.
In the longer term, try following these tips to improve your sleep patterns...
- Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, including weekends, even if you didn't get enough sleep. This will help train your body to sleep at night.
- Do the same thing every night before going to sleep. For example, take a warm bath and then read for 10 minutes. And don't forget that bedtime snack! Soon your mind will recognise these triggers and will start preparing for sleep.
- Make sure your bedroom is quiet and dark. Pull the curtains to cut out light from outside and if noise is a problem, use ear plugs.
- Don't keep a computer in the bedroom. Using your bedroom as a work place will make it harder for you to relax when you try and get to sleep. You need to condition your mind that you only use your bedroom for TWO things - and one of them is sleep!
- If you're still awake after trying to fall asleep for 30 minutes, get up and read for a while, and sip a cup of herbal tea. Don't lie in bed for hours on end willing sleep to come - you'll just end up feeling tense. And if you're feeling a bit adventurous (or barking mad) you could try this unusual remedy...
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Is Rolf Harris the most well-rested man in the world?
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Well it seems he just might be.
According to new research, something associated with Rolf can help people with sleep disorders.
It's not his beard that helps him, or his songs, or his penchant for painting the Queen.
In his words, 'do you know what it is yet?'
Well apparently, playing the didgeridoo could help alleviate sleep problems!
Swiss researchers found using the instrument for 25 minutes a day helped people with sleep apnoea.
Patients who had lessons reported less sleepiness during the day and their partners said there were less disturbances.
It's too late to get a didgeridoo for Christmas, but maybe a birthday...?
That's all for today, I'll be back again soon (once I've finished off that apple pie...)
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Yours as ever,
Ray Collins
The Good Life Letter |
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