By Dr. Michelle Irwin

We all know that there are animals who are awake in the day and those who are awake at night. This is true for all of their species, and it is rare for one of their members to deviate. But what about humans? We have 24-hour schedules to the point that most major cities have a 24-hour service to accommodate the number of people who work the night shift as well as the majority who are doing business through the day. What makes us different from the rest of the habitants on this planet?

Human innovation. As simple as that. We as a species have the same complex hormonal system that tells us to be awake with the sun and sleep with the moon, but with the invention of the electric light bulb by Thomas Edison, we have been able to manipulate that system to be awake at night and be able to see clearly by flicking the switch and turning on the lights. But is this really a good thing for all of us? The research shows it is not.

More people suffer from "sleep debt", which is the term for not having enough sleep on a regular basis. This leads to increased use of caffeine and other stimulants to stay awake and then we crash when our bodies can't handle the debt any longer. The price of this chronic debt includes increased stress, impaired cognitive function leading to loss of productivity, and increased accident rates not only outside the home but inside as well. Think about the "clumsy" thing you did the last time. Was it clumsy or were you not fully awake? The sleep debt will also lead to loss in vitality and optimism that herald the beginning of anxiety and depressive disorders along with compromised immune systems.

The use of the stimulants we have carries its own side effects that can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. While we may be able to mitigate these side effects by using less to "get by", the real healing will happen when we start respecting the importance of sleep and its role in our health.

Turn down those lights earlier in the evening to simulate the dying of the fire and remove all the blue light from where you sleep so you get the best night's sleep you can think of. If you are a night shift worker, as I know some of you are, blackout curtains are a must as well as sound canceling headphones. Also, ridding your space of blue light will help you restore your sleep as well. Another aid is using natural ways to relax to get your body ready for sleep, such as meditation and magnesium powders like our Max Relax. Max Relax is our multi-magnesium powder that helps you unwind at the end of your day in a natural way without the next day's side effects. It is our glass of wine alternative to end your day the right way.

Sleep well and if you have questions, we are here to help.