Whether you consistently have trouble falling and staying asleep or have endured a few restless nights, you may wonder why you can't sleep. Studies worldwide show that approximately 50% of adults struggle with sleep loss and sleep deprivation, while 33% have insomnia. Additionally, over a third of adults don't get the recommended 8 hours of sleep.
This goes to show that both acute and chronic forms of sleep disorders are the most common yet frequently overlooked and readily treatable health problems. Oftentimes, people rule out lack of sleep as a short-term issue that will magically go away when this isn't the case.
If not addressed, a lack of sleep can have severe consequences, such as poor brain function, weak immune system, bad mood, and low energy levels. A recent study conducted by Harvard University shows that long-term sleep deprivation may lead to numerous health problems, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
Fortunately, there's a lot you can do to address your sleep difficulties, but first, you must determine the root cause of your sleep loss. Read on to learn why you can't sleep and how magnesium supplements may solve your sleep problems.
Why Can't I Sleep?
Many factors can affect the amount and quality of sleep you get. From what you eat and drink to hormones, medications, and health conditions, various aspects can keep your mind awake and make it difficult to fall asleep. Generally, age, psychological and physiological conditions, culture and environmental factors affect sleep time and quality.
For example, the older you get, the less sleep you can get. An infant can sleep up to 14 hours a day, while an adult can only sleep for an average of 7 hours a day. Studies show that sleep decline often begins in the late 20s and early 30s, and the more you age, the more trouble you have falling asleep.
Additionally, stress (a psychological factor) can negatively impact your sleep. For instance, if you have concerns about work, school, or even everyday life, your brain remains active, making it hard to sleep. Events such as losing a loved one or a job can also increase your stress levels and impact your ability to sleep.
Other common factors that may affect your sleep include:
- Mental health disorders
- Changes in routine and habit
- Changes in health
- Poor sleep habits
- Irregular schedules
Women and Sleep
If you're a woman, in addition to the factors mentioned above, hormonal shifts during menstruation, fertility, pregnancy, and menopause adversely impact your sleep. According to research, 66 to 94% of women experience sleep difficulties during pregnancy, with some experiencing chronic insomnia.
Additionally, before menopause, hormone levels and menstrual periods become irregular, causing sleep problems. Premenopause symptoms like night sweats and hot flashes also make falling and staying asleep difficult.
It's essential to note that women are twice as likely to suffer from insomnia and other sleep problems than men.
What If Common Factors Aren't Impacting Your Sleep?
When it comes to sleep difficulties, many people only consider common factors like stress and make changes that apply to these factors. For instance, people with poor sleep habits may try to change their sleeping patterns to improve sleep quality. Unfortunately, most of these lifestyle interventions are short-lived.
If you want to improve the quality of your sleep and eliminate sleep difficulties, you need to take a deeper look at what's causing your sleep problems.
Here's where magnesium comes into play. Magnesium plays a critical role in sleep and overall health, yet it goes under-recognised. Low magnesium levels can throw off multiple body functions, resulting in troubled sleep and even insomnia.
What Is Magnesium?
Magnesium is a mineral used throughout your body to promote bone health and the overall function of organs. It's naturally present in foods like dark chocolate, avocados, nuts, legumes, nuts, and whole grains. However, it can be added to food products or supplemented, making it an essential mineral and vitamin to add to your diet.
Your body needs a sufficient amount of magnesium to function correctly. Healthy levels of magnesium protect metabolic health, keep stress in check, stabilize mood, and contribute to heart and bone health. Recent studies show that magnesium supplementation can promote better sleep in humans.
Why Does Magnesium Help With Sleep?
Magnesium helps with sleep in many ways, including:
1. It Can Help Your Body And Brain Relax
Your body and brain need to relax for you to fall asleep. On a scientific level, magnesium activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for calming and relaxing your brain and body.
The mineral also activates neurotransmitters and regulates the hormone melatonin, which aids in calming your mind and body.
If you have difficulty turning your brain off at night and simply unwinding, consider taking a mineral supplement to calm down. Taking magnesium supplements like The Glow Down go a long way in helping ease your brain and body, so you can fall asleep. The Glow Down is formulated with 400mg of magnesium to restore magnesium deficiency for a better night's rest. It's also formulated with six essential nutrients for normal body functioning, including Vitamin D and Zinc.
2. Low-Levels Of Magnesium Affect Sleep
Studies show that having low magnesium levels in your body can cause insomnia and other sleep-related problems. Therefore, if you're not getting enough magnesium, you may experience sleep problems. This makes it crucial to increase your magnesium intake to maintain an optimal level in your body. A great way to do this is through magnesium supplements.
It's vital to note that certain groups of people have a higher risk of magnesium deficiency than others. These include people with:
- Digestive disorders
- Diabetes
- Older adults
- Alcohol dependence
If you fall under any of these, make a point to supplement your magnesium intake.
3. It Helps Regulate Sleep Quality
While magnesium can help you fall asleep, it also plays a role in the quality of your sleep. Individuals with optimal levels of magnesium enjoy deeper and more restful sleep than those without. This is because magnesium blocks excitable molecules from binding to your nervous system, resulting in a calmer and more relaxed system.
According to Harvard University, the dietary recommended amount of magnesium for women is 310-320 mg, while pregnancy requires 350-360 mg daily. The magnesium supplement that Binto carries has 400mg of magnesium, which gives you more than enough magnesium to help regulate your sleep quality.
How Binto Can Help
Your sleep loss or sleep deprivation could be caused by a magnesium deficiency. Luckily, Binto can help you address this with our extensive range of supplements. We formulate supplements using high-quality ingredients with no fillers, preservatives, or chemicals. We source all our raw materials to ensure the end product is clean, safe for daily consumption, and highly effective.
To ensure you get vitamins and supplements that address your needs, we have a personalized quiz that allows us to better understand and meet your wants. We use this personalized quiz to tailor supplement kits just for you.
If you have questions regarding Binto's personalized quiz or need clarification on why you're recommended certain supplements, book a telehealth consult with a Binto provider. We'll answer your questions in-depth and address any concerns you may have.