When it is time to close your eyes at night, how quick do you fall asleep? Do you sometimes struggle to turn off your thoughts at night or just wake up suddenly even though it is midnight? Your body naturally produces the hormone melatonin when it gets dark, and harsh lights tells your body to stop making it. Think of when you put a blanket over a bird’s cage to get them to sleep. Turning off the television or powering off electronic such as a phone or tablet an hour before bed can be better for sleep. The Bluelight they emit can be stimulating to the brain and cause it to stay awake longer.

Age makes a difference

Like mentioned earlier, your body naturally makes melatonin but the older your get this decreases. In earlier teenage years is when the production hits it’s highest point and then drops off from there.

Please take a look at the graph above to see when your average might be.

Melatonin naturally calms your body down and helps you feel ready for sleep. Which helps you fall asleep once melatonin increases to sufficient levels in your body. It has strong antioxidant properties to support immune system and brain function and to help maintain healthy blood pressure. But for occasional sleeplessness, take melatonin at night, about 30-60 minutes before bedtime to get it ready for sleep. This should only be used as a short term aid for occasional sleep issues.

The Perfect Melatonin Fit

How to find the best melatonin for you can be difficult. Melatonin supplements generally range in milligrams from less than 1 to 10, and they come in liquid, lozenge, gummy, as well as capsules and tablets. It is best to start with the lowest dosage, with increases over time until you find the melatonin dosage that is right for you. When if comes to the different means of taking it, most have found that a liquid or lozenge gets into the blood stream faster then a capsule or tablet.

If you have tried melatonin and still find you are struggling to get to sleep each night, you may need to change your sleep habits. Take a look at what your pattern is each night to see if a change can be made to get that good night sleep.

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If there’s anything we’ve learned these past 12 months, it’s that having a strong immune system has never been more important than it is today as we battle a global pandemic. Here at Sunrise, many of our customers are asking how they can boost their immune systems to stay healthy. Fortunately, there are many supplements that have been shown to be beneficial for improving immunity, and we have the largest selection of supplements in town!

Check out the following article from Healthline:

“The 15 Best Supplements to Boost Your Immune System Right Now”.

CBD has recently become a popular trend in the health food scene. CBD, short for Cannabidiol, is a cold pressed oil extracted from small hemp seeds. Rather than it’s well-known “other half” THC, similarly found in hemp products, CBD is not associated with an impaired “high” effect. Therefore, the sale of CBD oil has been legalized in the state of California, allowing it’s incredible health benefits to be easily accessible.

The body’s Endocannabinoid system, or ECS, is vital for overall balance of the immune system, sleep, digestive tract, cognitive function, and the nervous system. Hemp extract, or CBD oil, has shown to provide incredible support to the Endocannabinoid system. Numerous studies have proved CBD oil to relieve chronic pain, reduce anxiety and depression, as well as benefit heart health. Also, hemp extract has been used to treat patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and even cancer. According to an article published in Forbes, the CBD market is looking to grow 700% by the year 2020 because of positive health benefits experienced by a growing number of individuals.

CBD oil comes in both a liquid and a capsule form. The dosage of CBD each individual should receive, to experience health benefits, will vary for every person depending on age, weight, and health concerns the consumer may be experiencing. It is recommended to take a capsule by mouth or add CBD oil to food or water. Also, many people have mixed CBD oil with their favorite lotion and apply it directly to their skin to help with stiff, achy joints.

Essential oils have been used since mankind first developed medicine. Pure oils derived from plants are capable of strengthening the immune system. Essential oils are also a powerful antioxidant, protecting the body from free radicals. Furthermore, these volatile liquids fight against bacteria, fungus, tumors, and viruses. Essential oils can be used in a variety of methods. Most people apply the oils topically or diffuse them aromatically. Also,certain essential oils can be ingested through capsules, diluted in a beverage, or simply on its own. Essential oils are found to be very beneficial for energizing the body, as well as relaxation of the mind.

Chemical-filled sleep aids line the shelves of drug stores. A better nights sleep does not have to be reliant on man made synthetic drugs with unnatural ingredients. Essential oils, including lavender, bergamot, and chamomile promote relaxation and stress reduction in the body. These oils are used to treat depression, insomnia and stress. Diffusing lavender or bergamot into a room tends to create a relaxing environment at home or in the workplace. Also, placing a few drops of stress reducing essential oils on a pillow before sleep helps the mind and body become relaxed and calm. An example of an effective use of essential oils is at Zuda Yoga, a local yoga studio in Roseville. After an intense workout, students are given a cool, wet towel infused with stress relieving oils. This allows the mind of the students to come into a relaxed state when resting in the final pose, savasana. Weather you are seeking a good night’s sleep, or simply wish for less emotional stress, essential oils will always be superior when compared to harsh effects of unnatural drugs.

The 2017-2018 flu season in America has affected an outstanding number of individuals. Reports of flu diagnosis continue to increase as the cold, winter months progress. The CDC stated in the beginning of January, 22.7% of all hospitalizations were due to the influenza virus. The particular strain of flu this season is infecting people of all ages, whether or not they received a flu shot. Taking action to prevent terrible symptoms, such as fever, congestion, and nausea, is crucial to remain healthy year-round.

Natural methods of prevention begin by boosting the immune system. Providing the body with tools to strengthen bacteria-fighting cells will inhibit harmful illnesses from taking over. Some may be familiar with ginger, garlic, citrus and antioxidant rich berries as immune boosting foods. While sipping on a warm mug of lemon tea, or taking a swig of a pungent ginger shot may be beneficial to overall immunity and gut health, avoiding the flu virus will require extra support. Ancient herbal medicinal practices have found natural, immune improving properties in many exotic plant sources. Elderberry, olive leaf, echinacea, thyme, and myrrh are just a handful of health promoting ingredients found in the plant kingdom. The daunting task of hunting down every herbal superfood drives people away from natural approaches of healing and prevention. Furthermore, the idea of a cluttered cabinet filled with fifty or more supplement bottles is far from appealing. Fortunately, promoting the body’s natural defence system has finally been made easy and accessible to everyone.

As a health conscious individual, I tend to gravitate toward natural remedies as a means of healing my body, as opposed to potent prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications generated in a lab. Discovering the healing properties of plants has given me a profound sense of gratitude toward the power woven into the natural environment around us. After learning the everlasting positive health effects turmeric root has on the human body, I have vowed to incorporate it into my diet. Similar to ginger, turmeric has a thick, rough exterior, but with a bright orange, firm interior. The root has a slightly bitter, sharp taste when eaten exclusively. However, adding a small spoonful of fresh or dried turmeric to any meal has very little taste, while still reaping the benefits the mighty root has to offer.

Curcumin, the raw, unrefined alkaloid found in turmeric, gives this powerful root many health promoting properties. Ancient Chinese and Indian medicinal practices have, for thousands of years, prescribed patients turmeric for the treatment of inflammation, as well as fatigue, stomach pain, and open wounds. Today, scientists and doctors have discovered numerous benefits associated with the regular consumption of turmeric. Not only is turmeric a powerful anti-inflammatory, the root is also used to treat and prevent bacterial infections, indigestion, heart disease, and even cancer. Additionally, turmeric is a strong and effective antioxidant, leading to the prevention of neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Hello and welcome to the Sunrise Natural Foods blog! My name is Taylor; a simple minded, open hearted, and ever learning individual behind the words of the new online journal. Also, I am behind-the-scenes of our community building social media pages, attempting to connect with our local customers. I have been a member of the Sunrise family my entire life, allowing me to plant my roots into the growing relationship our society has with improving overall well being and longevity, by a natural means of healing. I seek to educate and inspire the health conscious and health curious about not only surviving, but thriving in a modern world. Thank you for being a member of the Sunrise Natural Foods family. We are here to support each unique journey on the path to a pure, organic, and natural lifestyle.

Taylor
@_plantpoweredyogi