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The fact is that we are not getting the rest that we need, and if we ever did actually get that rest, we would notice a vast difference in our performance and energy levels that would amaze most of us. Most of us also don't realize the impact that the foods we eat during the day have on our sleep.
Most of us do, however, know that caffeine keeps us awake. So, of course you want to avoid anything that has caffeine in it at least six hours before bed time. But just as caffeine is something that keeps us awake, there are many foods that actually help us get better sleep. Any food that contains tryptophan is a ‘sleeper' food.
Tryptophan is an amino acid that produces melatonin in the brain. Melatonin slows down the traffic in the nerves and helps our brains rest. The brain, of course, is the body's commanding officer. When it's busy, so is the rest of the body - but when it takes some R & R, the rest of the body also gets to rest.
You've heard of people drinking a warm glass of milk in order to get to sleep. The ‘warm' part really has no effect on sleep. It is a psychological trigger that soothes us from our baby days, when our mothers fed us warmed milk or baby formula. The milk part of that, however, actually does aid us in sleep, because of the calcium and the tryptophan that is contained in milk.
The calcium actually helps the brain use the tryptophan in a more productive way, making it produce melatonin faster, which relaxes our brains enough to let us fall into a deep, relaxing sleep.
Life Force International has a product called OsteoProCare, which is a liquid calcium supplement. One of the first benefits of OsteoProCare that their customers notice is that they sleep better. Again, this is because of the calcium. Not only does this calcium help the brain produce melatonin, it also reduced pain and stiffness, and helps decrease leg cramps, restless legs, and muscle spasms that many people experience during the night. The only reason we mention a specific product here is because it is in a liquid form instead of a pill. The absorption into the bloodstream is much faster and your body utilizes more of it. This is unique in the calcium supplement market and we have not found any other calcium supplements that even comes close.
People that have used a liquid calcium supplement also report an increased sense of well being, which is also the result of a good night's sleep.
So, have that glass of milk before bed - warm or cold - and use a liquid calcium supplement during the day, at mealtimes, to not only aid in good sleep, but also to promote good health as well.
If you have trouble sometimes picking out a good calcium supplement, you are not alone. Choosing a calcium supplement can be a frustrating experience, even for health care professionals. The reason is simple. In U.S, calcium supplements are prepared and sold in different formulations, each claiming to be the right one for you. The fact that there are as many brand names as there are formulations makes it even more confusing for an average consumer. However, the situation is not entirely hopeless. Knowing what you should look for when shopping for a calcium supplement can make your experience less frustrating.
The first thing you should do when shopping for a supplement is take a few minutes to read the "supplement facts" label found on the supplement bottle. On it, you will find the serve size or dose for the supplement, the kind of calcium compound it contains, amount per serving, and percent daily value. Percent daily value is simply the percentage of the daily value provided by one serving.
Secondly, determine the calcium content per serving of the supplement. You can do so by identifying the kind of calcium compound used in the supplement. Different calcium compounds have different amounts of calcium (or elemental calcium). For example, calcium carbonate is 40% calcium; dicalcium phosphate is 38% calcium; calcium citrate is 21% calcium; calcium lactate is 13% calcium by weight and calcium gluconate is 9% calcium. What this means is that if you take 500 mg of calcium carbonate, for instance, you will get 200 mg of calcium. By contrast, you will have to take at least 950 mg of calcium citrate in order to get the same amount of calcium.
Next, consider how well the supplement dissolves. This is what sets apart good calcium supplements from bad ones. If the supplement does not dissolve well in your stomach, you are unlikely to get maximum benefit from it. To test how well the supplement dissolves, place a pill in a cup containing warm water. Let it sit for 30 minutes while stirring occasionally. If it does not dissolve well after 30 minutes, it is unlikely to dissolve well in your stomach.
Absorbability is also an important feature of a good calcium supplement. Calcium carbonate is well absorbed by most people, but calcium citrate is often recommended for those with digestive or absorption problems. You can also improve absorption of any calcium supplement by taking it in doses of 500 mg or less and with vitamin D. Calcium carbonate should be taken with food while calcium citrate can be taken any time during the day.
Good calcium supplements meet certain purity standards indicated by the use of the abbreviation USP, which stands for United States Pharmacopeia. Choose only supplements that have this symbol on their labels. Avoid calcium from unrefined oyster shell, bone meal, or dolomite without the USP symbol; they may contain high levels of lead or other toxic metals.
Finally, check how well you tolerate the supplement. Some calcium supplements produce side effects such as constipation, gas, and stomach upset. If you develop any of these side effects, try the steps discussed above under absorbability. If those steps do not help you, try a different supplement. You may also consult with your doctor or pharmacist.
Anyone looking for a calcium supplement can easily find one in the stores; picking out the right one for you is a different story. So, before you buy, read the "supplement facts" label carefully. Determine the calcium compound in the supplement and its calcium content. Test how well it dissolves and your level of tolerance for it. Choose supplements with the USP abbreviation on their labels. If you develop side effects from your supplement, try a different one, or consult with your doctor.