Proper sleep and management of stress is important to our well-being. It is a lot more common for Canadians to experience sleep problems than most people think.

Did you know? According to Public Health Canada¹:

• 1 in 2 adults have trouble going to sleep or staying asleep.
• 1 in 5 adults do not find their sleep refreshing.
• 1 in 3 adults have difficulty staying awake during waking hours.

According to the Sleep foundation, stress and anxiety often lead to insomnia and sleep problems². By the same token, lack of proper rest can contribute to stress². And because stress and sleep problems share such a reciprocal relationship, addressing one of these issues can often lead to improvements for the other².

What can you do to improve the quality of your sleep?

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation recommends the following³:

• Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends.
• Be Mindful. Shortly before bedtime, try a relaxation strategy that incorporates mindfulness, deep breathing, or meditation, all of which boost sleep time and quality.
• Turn Screens Off Early. The blue light emitted by digital devices—including TVs, phones, laptops, and tablets—can throw off your body’s internal clock, so avoid them before bedtime. Finding a tech-free way to wind down can help soothe stress.
• Take a Hot Bath or Shower to Relax. Going from warm water into a cooler bedroom will cause your body temperature to drop, naturally making you feel sleepy.
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, large meals, foods that induce heartburn, and drinking a lot of fluid for several hours before bedtime.
• Exercise Regularly. Exercise is a great stress reliever and has been shown to improve the quality of sleep, particularly for people with insomnia. But make sure your more intense workouts aren’t too close to bedtime. Try to get your workouts in at least three hours before you turn in.
• Have an herbal tea. Chamomile and other herbal teas can help relax and sooth the body, which can make it easier to fall asleep. Try pairing it with a good book and making it a mini routine to end your night.

Nature’s Way offers products that can help support sleep, and stress management.

Melatonin Gummies

Nature’s Way Melatonin Gummies provide 2.5 mg of Melatonin per gummy and helps reduce the time it takes to fall asleep in people who fall asleep slowly. These delicious strawberry flavoured melatonin gummies help to prevent and reduce the effects of jet lag and helps to increase the total sleep time in people suffering from sleep restriction or altered sleep schedule. Nature’s Way Melatonin Gummies are free from gluten, wheat, yeast-derived ingredients, soy, gelatin, peanuts, eggs, dairy, and are 100% vegetarian.

Valerian

Valerian is used as an herbal nighttime sleep aid. Nature’s Way Valerian provides 400 mg Valerian Root and 110 mg of Valerian Root Extract standardized to 0.8% valerenic acids, per capsule.

Ashwaghanda

Nature’s Way Ashwagandha is traditionally used in Ayurveda as a sleep aid and is used as an adaptogen to help increase energy and resistance to stress.

Stress Manager

Nature’s Way Stress Manager is an herbal combination that helps reduce the symptoms of stress such as fatigue, sleeplessness, irritability, and inability to concentrate.

Make sure that you consult with your healthcare provider or dietician if you have specific questions about how a dietary supplement could benefit you and your family, or before making any changes to your diet or exercise routine. 

References:
1. Public Health Canada. Are Canadian adults getting enough sleep? Infographic – Canada.ca. Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/canadian-adults-getting-enough-sleep-infographic.html. Published 2019. Accessed March 9, 2022.
2. Fry A. Stress and Insomnia | Sleep Foundation. Sleepfoundation.org. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/insomnia/stress-and-insomnia. Published 2021. Accessed March 9, 2022.
3. How to Get a Good Night Sleep When Stressed. Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. https://www.bbrfoundation.org/blog/how-get-good-night-sleep-when-stressed. Published 2020. Accessed March 9, 2022.

About the Author: Nature’s Way Team

For over 50 years, Nature’s Way has been providing retailers and consumers with natural health supplements, including herbs, omega-3s, natural cold & flu remedies, and probiotics. Their family of brands include Nature’s Way, NutraSea, NutraVege, Sambucus, Umcka, and Fortify.