Health Try This DIY Foot Reflexology Before Bed for the Best Sleep Ever

Try out this DIY foot reflexology before bed for the best sleep ever.

A good night’s sleep? Do you even remember what that feels like?
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When my partner and I agreed to move into a newly remodelled loft condo in the historic Hudson’s Bay building in downtown Victoria, we were thrilled by a few interior features: double bathroom sinks, heated tile floors, west-facing (hello sunsets!) and massive floor-to-ceiling windows that were original to the condo’s historic structure. Read more

Getting Less than 7 Hours Sleep a Night May Damage DNA

Getting less than seven hours' sleep a night could damage DNA 'beyond repair' and even lead to cancer.

A lack of sleep could permanently damage DNA and increase the risk of cancer, scientists believe.

Sleep deprivation can also reduce DNA's ability to repair itself, possibly leading to genetic diseases, findings from a study suggest.

Researchers believe it is the first study of its kind to look into the effects of sleep deprivation on genes in young adults.

The research focused on doctors who had to adjust their sleep patterns due to night shift work. Scientists do not know why a lack of sleep damages DNA. Read more

the 5 Best Essential Oils for Better Sleep

These five essential oils can help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Best of all, they are safe and inexpensive.

As you grow older, you might have more trouble falling asleep, especially if you’re constantly stressed or anxious. If you’re tired of tossing and turning until you fall asleep, consider using soothing essential oils.

Essential oils are made from natural sources like flowers and trees, and these oils have relaxing and sedative effects. Conclusive research is limited, but a lot of people who have trouble falling asleep, especially because of discomfort, pain, or stress, report that “essential oils help them fall asleep and stay asleep.” Read more

the Best Sleep Position Revealed

What is the best sleep position to avoid back pain?

SLEEP position can cause back pain, arthritis joint pain and can improve your snoring. The way you lie in bed can say a lot about your overall health, and how easily you find it to get to sleep.

Getting enough sleep is crucial for the body to function properly, according to the NHS.

About one in three people in the UK suffer from poor sleep.

Sleep deprivation can lead to feeling grumpy, and not performing at your best. Read more

11 Foods Scientifically Proven to Help You Sleep

Plagued by insomnia? These eleven foods have been scientifically proven to help you sleep.

It’s official, Brits don’t sleep enough.

Recent research found a staggering 38 per cent of Brits are not getting enough sleep with women aged 35-44 affected the worst.

The survey, conducted by life insurance company Aviva looked at the sleep habits of 14 countries globally and found Britons were the worst sleepers.

People have been using food and herbs for centuries to help them nod off trying everything from cups of hot milk to camomile tea. Read more

Banana Tea for Better Sleep

This tea will help you sleep better at night.

6 Benefits of Yoga for Sleep Deprivation

Yoga is not only good for strength and flexibility, but Lowenna Waters says that it also benefits sleep deprivation.

It's a well known fact that sleep disorders such as insomnia are endemic in our stress-filled, caffeine-driven contemporary lifestyles. In a recent study, it was shown that Britons are the world's most 'sleep deprived' people, with 37 per cent of the population reporting that they regularly don't get enough shut eye.

The health implications of sleep deprivation are equally shocking. It's been shown that when the brain is starved of sleep, its synapses begin to be 'eaten' by other cells in the brain. What's more, a lack of sleep can trigger the release of a chemical in the brain that leads to Alzheimers disease, and even that it's physically 'as bad as smoking'. Read more

Why Waking Up in the Night Is Natural

Until the 19th Century, people swore by the benefits of a first and second sleep, according to Professor Roger Ekirch of Virginia Polytechnic and State University. People regularly used to have two periods of sleep and do tasks in between.

It may bring some comfort to those who go to bed, only to wake up in the middle of the night frustratedly unable to get back to sleep.

While today this is seen as insomnia, until the end of the 19th century people did it on purpose.

Well after the Industrial Revolution, many people in Britain still swore by the health benefits of a ‘first sleep’ and ‘second sleep’. Read more

Lack of Sleep Can Make You Fat

A study reveals how lack of sleep leaves us wanting to eat more throughout the day.

People who do not get enough sleep at night are more likely to overeat during the day, scientists have found.

British researchers discovered sleep deprivation can be linked to taking on an extra 385 calories a day – enough to pile on the pounds – as people ate more fatty food and protein.

Even though they spent more time awake, they did no more physical activity than people who had a full night’s sleep and so did not burn up any more calories Read more

Buy a Cheap Mattress, Have a Late Night, Toss Your Pillow

If you want a good night's sleep, it's time to throw out the rule book, according to David Beckham's sleep coach.

For the past 30 years, I’ve dedicated my life to sleep. I’ve been teaching sports stars from David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo to Victoria Pendleton and Laura Trott how to get the most out of their sleep.

What I’ve discovered is that much of the talk about sleep is nonsense. The secrets of waking up feeling rested don’t lie in spending as much as you can afford on a mattress or in trying to get eight hours a night.

In fact, if you really want a good night’s sleep — and who doesn’t? — it’s time to throw out the rule book and start again.

My top tips might sound contrary to common sense, but they’re the best you’ll ever hear… Read more

DIY Natural Sleep Remedy

You'll go bananas over this natural sleep remedy, says Pamela Bofferding.

We live in a world of constant stimulation: light from laptops and iPhones, noise pollution, and the stress of being so very connected all of the time. As well, insomnia could be caused by environmental influences. Luckily, there are lots of natural remedies, and if you are anything like myself, you have tried all of them. I’ve had success with melatonin, chamomile tea, valerian root, and even just a cup of nice, warm milk. But I’m always happy to add to my sleep remedy arsenal, so when I read about a banana and cinnamon tea meant to help you sleep, it sounded right up my alley. Read more

7 Reasons to Sleep Naked

New research reveals that men who sleep naked have better quality sperm, but that's only one of the reasons you should wear your birthday suit to bed.

Good news, fans of sleeping in the nude: you now have an excuse to air yourself at night-time.

According to a new study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Maryland, and Stanford University, sleeping in boxer shorts or PJs could damage sperm production and harm the chances of having a baby.

Tight boxers are the biggest offenders here – they increase the temperature of the testicles, which can cause the quality of a man’s sperm to decrease. Ditching them in favour of loose underwear during the day and nothing at night can bring about a 25pc increase in sperm quality, according to the research.

In truth, this is only the latest in a long line of scientific endeavour that suggests going commando at night really is the way forward … Read more

Essential Oils for Insomnia

If you suffer from insomnia, essential oils may solve the problem rather than just treat the symptoms, according to Raw Michelle.

Tossing and turning without falling asleep can be more than annoying, as even a few restless nights can wreck havoc on your mind and body.

While it is easy to pop a pill in an attempt to find some relief from occasional insomnia, Mother Nature has provided a number of ways to do so without resorting to medications or over-the-counter sleeping aids that could potentially lead to the development of even more disrupted sleeping patterns. Read more

Your Ancestors Didn't Sleep the Way You Do

Segmented sleep is the healthy, natural way of our ancestors, says Edward Group.

Nobody questions the importance of getting enough sleep. At minimum, it’s essential for rejuvenating the mind and revitalizing the body. But, what is enough? And what does it look like? Many people find they wake during the night and wonder if they’re suffering from a sleep disorder or other health issue. While that could be totally possible, it’s also possible that sleep may not be an all-night thing. In fact, historical records, centuries-old literature, and ancient references to sleep are all revealing a whole new way we should be looking at how we slumber. Read more

5 Yoga Poses for Better Sleep

If you’re having trouble getting to sleep at night, a simple way to de-stress could be performing this short yoga routine.

After a long, stressful day at the office, it can be challenging to relax in the evening. Some people turn to an alcoholic drink or two to unwind, but that can actually make it harder to get restful sleep. A vigorous workout can help ease stress, but if done too close to bedtime you may actually have some trouble falling asleep. Although some styles of yoga (such as vinyasa yoga with sun salutations) can be considered vigorous and should be avoided before bedtime, practicing a few gentle, relaxation-inducing postures, along with deep breathing, can help ready you for a good night’s sleep. Keep a yoga mat rolled up by your bedside, and spend about 20 minutes before bed performing these poses. Read more

The Best and Worst Sleeping Positions

What position do you sleep in? Joe Martino examines the pros and cons of every sleeping position.

It has been said that we spend about 1/3 of our lives sleeping. Since we know sleeping is quite important for our health, physical body, mental function and overall mood, it’s important we get good sleep. Having trouble with sleep can be caused by a number of things ranging from a bad mattress, a room with too much light, eating or drinking the wrong things before bed or even something like your sleeping position. Read more

The Myth of the Eight-Hour Sleep

Is eight consecutive hours of sleep a night necessary for good health? It may not only be unnecessary, but it may also be abnormal.

In the early 1990s, psychiatrist Thomas Wehr conducted an experiment in which a group of people were plunged into darkness for 14 hours every day for a month.

It took some time for their sleep to regulate but by the fourth week the subjects had settled into a very distinct sleeping pattern. They slept first for four hours, then woke for one or two hours before falling into a second four-hour sleep.

Though sleep scientists were impressed by the study, among the general public the idea that we must sleep for eight consecutive hours persists.

In 2001, historian Roger Ekirch of Virginia Tech published a seminal paper, drawn from 16 years of research, revealing a wealth of historical evidence that humans used to sleep in two distinct chunks. Read more

How to Make Hops Pillows for Sleep Aid

Sleep better the natural way! Learn how to make hops pillows and fall asleep faster.