Froodee

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Not Getting Quality Sleep? Check Your Alcohol Consumption!

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Connoisseur Red Wine GlassIt’s been a party week for me. I guess people have just been too stressed out in the past month so everyone was trying to find ways to de-stress all week. Naturally, that meant a lot of booze in the picture. But did you know that drinking alcohol can actually interfere with your sleep?

I seriously thought that alcohol can help you sleep! According to a study funded by the British government, alcohol actually gives rise to sleep problems due to its effects on the human brain. What happens is that the brain stops releasing the chemical vasopressin. This is the chemical that tells our kidneys to re-absorb water. As a result, people drinking alcohol need to take frequent trips to the loo. Now I know I do not have to explain that!

The problem is that when we are already in bed, the effect of the alcohol in our system remains the same, resulting in dehydration. Now you know why you wake up so thirsty!

Another effect of alcohol is to disrupt REM; not the band, but one of the stages of sleep. REM is necessary for deep satisfying sleep, and with alcohol messing around with this stage, it is no wonder that people wake up feeling like crap in the morning.

The next time you feel like having more than two pints of beer (for men) or more than a 250mL of wine (women) on a “regular” night, I suggest that you think again if you want to get quality sleep.

Sleeping Counts a Lot

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Sleep

During my school days my teacher would always catch one of my classmates sleeping during lecture. I kid you not, and I know you have fond memories that are alike. Sleep is important, it recharges the body with needed “idle” time. Muscles flex and contract the whole day and they just need to be put into “neutral” position. When the body says you need a shut-eye, it is hard to resist. To avoid embarrassment of being caught sleeping at inappropriate times follow these suggestions:

– set a schedule
– exercise
– avoid caffeine, nicotine & alcohol
– relax before bedtime
– sleep until sunlight
– don’t lie in bed awake
– control your room temperature
– see a doctor if your sleeping problems continue

If you have trouble falling asleep night after night, or if you always feel tired the next day, then you may have a sleep disorder and should see a physician.

This disorder will surely affect your health and the quality of your life.

Your primary care physician may be able to help you; if not, you can probably find a sleep specialist at a major hospital near you. Most sleep disorders can be treated effectively, so you can finally get that good night’s sleep you need.

Image via ThinkQuest

How To Wake Up Looking Your Best

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Don’t you ever wonder about those women on TV and in the movies who wake up looking absolutely gorgeous? I am sure they do NOT look like that in real life! Still, there are things that we women can do to make sure that we look pretty good the moment we get out of bed.

First, make sure you wash your face at night. Not only that, try using a deep cleansing yet gentle product a few hours before you go to bed. This will help you get rid of more toxins and dirt as the blood flow is much better at nighttime.

Second, sleep on your back if you can. I know we all have our preferred sleeping positions but sleeping on the back avoids pressure on the face. The more pressure you put on your face, the higher your chances of developing wrinkles.

Third, mix some tanning cream onto your night moisturizer if you want to get a healthy glow. Just make sure you don’t over do it. The effect will give you a nice smooth color in the long run.

Fourth, cut back on the carbs, especially for dinner. Wonder why you get that puffy look in the morning? It’s probably the loads of mashed potatoes (or other high carb food) that you had for dinner. Instead of eating lots of carbs, go for more protein. Avoid the sugar, too.

Fifth, and last, wake up with nice hair by using satin or silk pillowcases. These materials cause less friction, resulting in less frizz when you wake up.