It’s really weird. I had a different article for today. I wrote it. It was ready to go. It just didn’t seem right for some reason. Everywhere I looked I was getting signals to write about something else. The diabetic support group paired me up with people that needed to hear this. In my personal life, several people that I knew suffered the same thing. They weren't able to get a night's good sleep to heal their bodies.
Inflammation in our bodies shows up as different symptoms. Struggling to get to sleep can be caused by too much caffeine in our bodies that we eat or drink after noon. Caffeine is an inflammatory agent. Other times. we can’t sleep because we don't have a good sleep routine. The common thread I was seeing was that people were having their sleep pattern interrupted because they had to get up to go to the bathroom.
We think it is natural to lose bladder control as we age. This may not be completely accurate. We think that getting grumpier as we age can be natural. Besides, who isn't angry when they can't sleep well for months or even years?
Four years ago, I suffered from chronic fatigue due to a lack of sleep. I went to see a homeopathic doctor. He put me on L-tryptophan to treat my bladder control and sleep issues when I was getting up 4-6 times a night to go pee. Over time, it worked. I was able to sleep the entire night; and my body began to heal. I was amazed and knew I needed to share this fantastic information.
I'm in a diabetic support group, Bezzy T2D, sponsored by Healthline. The group does a great job of matching existing members with new members. It is a great way to welcome people who are just finding this group. If a new member feels comfortable, they share why they’re coming to the group; and what is bothering them. This week, I was matched up with people who were frustrated by their lack of sleep.
I would greet them, and I would talk to them about L-tryptophan. It does improve sleep and mood; but it is still important to check with your doctor before starting any new vitamins or supplements. Our doctors order and read our lab results. Labs tell us what is going on in our bodies. Our doctors prescribe our medication. They teach and advise us on our best course of action to become healthier. They have the knowledge to ensure there are no medical interactions between medications, vitamins, and supplements.
What is L-tryptophan? It is an amino acid the body normally synthesizes from foods like turkey, milk, eggs, fish, oats, bananas, chocolate, dried dates, soy, tofu, tree nuts, pumpkin and sesame seeds. The body uses L-tryptophan to make serotonin and melatonin. This is why you want to be sure you are not taking melatonin and L-tryptophan at the same time. A dosage of 60 mg is the daily recommended dose.
In my daily life, I have a couple of friends that suffer from lack of sleep. I questioned both of them. I found out they both wake up many times during the night to go to the bathroom. I remember those nights and the frustration! Of course, I don't want see them continuing to struggle!
One of my friends said he wasn't just having problems sleeping; but he was also clogged up and wasn't having regular bowel movements. I invited him over for Effer C tea, L-tryptophan, and some black olives. He called back with this report the next day.
We live about a football field's length apart. He likes to walk over to my place from his home. He said the walk back home was interesting. About midway home, the L-tryptophan started to work. He found he needed to go to the restroom right away but still had a half a football field to go to get home. The Effer C tea had run through his system. He found himself doing the cross-legged scissor walk the rest of the way back.
He got a really lightheaded feeling. He said it was stronger than being drunk. I was going to feed him some food, but only the black olives appealed to his appetite. He said he would be fine. He neglected to tell me some important facts... He hadn’t eaten anything all day and was a bit dehydrated until I gave him some tea. The L-tryptophan's creation of serotonin went straight to his head. Public service announcement, please eat and drink when taking L-tryptophan. To add insult to injury, the black olives kicked in right as he was approaching his condo.
He found he not only needed to pee but also needed to have a bowel movement immediately! He had made it home, but he still had a bit of an obstacle course. First was the baby gate he had to step over instead of letting his animals outside. Another hurdle was dodging his two dogs and multiple cats to get to the bathroom.
I’m happy to report he made it. He noticed that the blood vessels had opened up in his urinary tract and resulted in an extremely strong fire dousing stream coming out of his hose. When he went to sleep, he had a very deep, restful sleep from the melatonin production. He was extremely happy he didn’t wake up multiple times to go to the bathroom.
To assist the L-tryptophan, I’ve created a nice tea recipe that helps promote sleep. It is a lavender blueberry hot tea. Lavender and blueberries are antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties to assist with healing while you are asleep. Lavender aids in getting a better-quality sleep because it regulates melatonin levels in the body. It also has a calming effect on the nervous system improving mood and decreasing anxiety.
Lavender Blueberry Tea
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon blueberries
1 teaspoon fresh lavender leaves
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon flax seed
1 cup hot water
1 tablespoon blue agave sweetener
Directions:
1.) Place the cinnamon and flaxseed in a large coffee cup.
2.) Put the blueberries and lavender leaves in a tea strainer in the cup.
3.) Add boiling water and seep for three minutes.
4.) Mix in the agave syrup.
***Pictured with 1/8 cup of half and half***
L-tryptophan can have side effects: heartburn, stomach pain, belching, diarrhea, loss of appetite, headaches, sexual disfunction, dry mouth, vomiting and nausea. Don't take it if you are pregnant. If you experience drowsiness, lightheadedness, visual blurring, muscle weakness, skin rashes, difficulty breathing, cramping, or fatigue, discontinue use immediately. Don't use if you are currently taking tricyclic antidepressants, MAO inhibitors, pain relievers (for example: tramadol or meperidine), triptan migraine medications, sedatives, or cough syrup that contains dextromethorphan. The benefits aren't just improved sleep and mood but also include relief from anxiety and depression, improved emotional wellbeing, and strengthened pain tolerance.
Sources: "How Lavender Can Improve Your Health"
Cleveland Clinic 12/20/2021
"What is Tryptophan?"
Healthline 02/23/2021
Better sleep is a great pathway to a healthier you. What will you do with the extra energy you get from better sleep and mood? Please comment, like, share, and come back next week for more recipes, ideas, and tips. Subscribe to the website, if you would like weekly email reminders to add more recipes to your recipe book.
Disclaimer: This is not medical advice, but a compilation of research from medical sites. Make sure to see your doctor and have up-to-date lab work.
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