18 | Why Your Sleep Sucks & Holistic Strategies for Quality Rest with Dr. Wendi Davis, ND

Conversation with Dr. Wendi Davis, ND.Estimates at least 80% of her clients have sleep trouble.Why is sleep so important? You can’t be truly healthy if you’re not sleeping well.Sleep is when our brain detoxes, our body recovers, it helps regulate mood, hormones and metabolism.Sleep deprivation causes magnesium deficiency, brain fog, lack of focus, lack of energy, poor diet, mental health problems, and just affects every area of life. Causes of sleep deprivation: stress - high cortisol levels decreases melatonin production. Pain - from autoimmune issues or otherwise, chronic pain can’t sleep well. Diet - not eating the right foods, not regulating blood sugar. Hormones - perimenopause or menopause (progesterone helps us produce GABA which helps us fall asleep.) One sleep remedy isn’t going to work for everyone. Exercise - be careful of the type of exercise and when you exercise.Diet - food is medicine or a slow form of poison. The biggest thing is sugar. It is poison, kryptonite. At every meal, have good protein and fat to keep your blood sugar stable and get the nutrients you need. The body is one unit, start to put things together and things fall into place. Diet is the foundation. The connection between sleep and mental health. I wish there was more investigation when people have sleep problems, finding the root cause and finding what’s not working. (Me: Yes! Yes! Yes!)Recommends 7-9 hours for adults.Advice for those struggling: Focus on your sleep routine, get into bed earlier!Limit blue light before bed, instead have warm, low light to get your body producing melatonin. Diet: what are you eating on a regular basis? do you need a snack before bed or not?Exercise - try to move it earlier in your day so it’s not right before bedDeep breathing/meditation/prayer, to bring cortisol downSupplementation - magnesium glycinate, melatonin, herbal teas, essential oilsPay attention to your exposure to emfsGet help! If you are still struggling with sleep after trying a few things. Find a practitioner that will help you find out why!Gut health - you are what you eat, but you are what you eat and absorb. If your gut health is off, then that can definitely affect your sleep. (Seratonin and melatonin production.)CBD good for sleep? Medicinal use of cannabis for sleep can be great for some people. Some need to be careful using it long term. Wendy recommends: A great cookbook! - One of my favorites: Paleo Press Cooking Her favorite snack - dehydrated apples with nut butter She would love to see on the podcast - Lewellyn Melnyk - author and her book Rooted Kyla Johanson - Live Blood Cell Analysis and here Nancy Wozniak - stage 4 colon cancer survivor Connect with Dr. Wendy Davis, ND Website and blog Shop with Dr. Wendy InstagramConnect with the Daily Wellness Community website: dailywellnesscommunity.com IG: @dailywellnesscommunity Facebook: Daily Wellness Community Leave a podcast review on Apple PodcastsSome products I mention may be affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through one of my links. Our family greatly appreciates your support, it helps us keep creating the free resources we make for you all!DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.