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Getting enough good quality healthy sleep is a very desirable habit. Do you get enough zzzz's?

Many people do not take the topic seriously, but for your body's sake, you really should...it's connected to your hormonal and immune system function, so not getting enough can make you sick in a variety of ways. Not getting enough aleep can also negatively affect your weight.

Most people need to rest deeply for 8-10 hours per night and for optimal health, it is best to try to get to bed by 10 pm on a regular basis because your organs (including the very important adrenal glands) rest and replenish in the nighttime hours.

If you have problems in this area, a natural medicine physician can help you. There are also a variety of natural sleep remedies you can try on your own to improve the situation.

Some of the my favorite good night sleep tips are:

Exercise : when done in some form daily, particularly in the morning, it promotes good rest at night.

Get some daily sunlight exposure and go to bed in complete darkness: this boosts levels of the helpful hormone melatonin.

Follow a blood sugar balancing diet that combines healthy protein, carbs, and fat at each meal and snack, limit caffeine, and don't eat or drink too close to bedtime. See my healthy eating guidelines and my healthy weight loss information for more ideas about how to eat for your best health.

Make sure your pillow and bed are comfy and replace them if they are not- you can look into eco-friendly and green Keetsa mattresses that are good for you and the environment.

Avoid pharmaceutical aids. These are habit forming and have many potential side effects. If you want to try a natural remedy, the herbs passionflower, hops, oatstraw and lemon balm may help. You can drink these in the form of nourishing herbal infusions throughout the day and you'll feel calmer and less stressed in the evening as a result.