We’ve all heard the various dos and don’ts when trying to get better sleep - limit blue light before bed, don’t go to bed on a full stomach, use white noise and so on.
Whatever it may be, it’s clear to see that all we really want is a good night's sleep - but it can be confusing to make sense of the advice.
More FM Drive’s Sarah Gandy sat down with internationally acclaimed Nutritional Biochemist (and all-round health & wellness legend) Dr Libby.
Dr Libby specialises in helping women to understand the interplay between nutrition, biochemistry and emotions when it comes to health.
In a round of quickfire questions, Dr Libby gave us her ‘yays’ and ‘nays’ for having a good sleep.
Should I take a hot shower or bath before bed?
Yes. Taking a hot shower before bed can increase your body temperature and cause your core body temperature to decrease, signalling that it is time to go to sleep.
Does using lavender products actually work?
Also yes. Lavender helps to calm the nervous system, which reduces anxiety and stress, overall improving the quality of sleep.
When asked about further essential oils that may help with sleep, Dr Libby couldn’t recommend chamomile enough.
“It is magnificent for so many pathways that help us sleep really well,” she said.
“It’s [also] very, very relaxing on digestion.”
How long before bed should I eat dinner?
As long as possible, Dr Libby says.
She explained that, similar to “babies and old people” wanting to eat dinner at 5 pm, we should too.
“We’re all hungry then,” she said.
“But work and other commitments often stop us from eating our dinner, so we smash a tub of hummus or a block of cheese, a packet of crackers or half a bottle of wine, when we’re actually hungry.”
How often should I use melatonin?
Melatonin is something many people are talking about nowadays, especially now that you can buy it over the counter in New Zealand.
However, Dr Libby says she is ‘a big fan of getting the body to produce its own”.
“If you are not producing enough yourself, why not? Is it a nutrient deficiency, is it related to iron, is it related to zinc, is it related to magnesium?” she asked.
“I worry that we just all want a pill to override lifestyle choices rather than changing the lifestyle choices.”
“I know some people use it, love it, feel great, others use it [and] wake up in the morning so groggy… so just notice how it makes you feel,” she finished.
Does sleeping in the nude make a difference?
In true Dr Libby style, she busted this one “whatever spins your tyres, love”.
Yes, that’s right. It doesn’t really matter what you sleep in; it isn’t some “magic healthy” thing.
“It’s whatever makes you the most comfortable,” she concluded.
To hear more of Dr Libby’s tips on all things sleep, listen to the full chat here.
