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Sleep disorders are frustrating problems for many people. A lack of sleep, beyond making you tired, can cause other disorders as well, such as depression and anxiety.

Many people don’t recognize sleep disorders as a major problem so they try to take over the counter sleep medicine to do the trick. Sleep disorders are serious and will not be remedied by over the counter medicine.

If you toss and turn each night before you are finally able to fall asleep, you are not alone. Altogether, approximately 60 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. Forty million suffer from chronic sleep disorders, while another 20 million suffer from occasional, milder sleep irregularities.

Distinguishing The Types Of Sleep Disorders

There are three distinct categories that sleep conditions are typically categorized by. These categories are:

* lack of sleep,
* disturbed sleep
* excessive sleep.

Each category describes the amount of good rest the person affected gets in relation to how much they need. The average adult needs six to nine hours of sleep a night. I have found that the amount of sleep required depends on the individual and what amount of rest makes them feel and function their best every day.

The first category of sleep disorders, lack of sleep, is also commonly known as insomnia. It is not uncommon to experience insomnia occasionally; however, if it occurs often, then it may be a sign of a chronic sleep disorder. Failing to get the proper amount of sleep can disrupt daily life in many ways. Many people who suffer from insomnia worry during the day about not being able to fall asleep, which can contribute to the problem.

There are many consequences of insomnia. Lack of quality rest is known to impact judgment, memory, hand-eye coordination, well-being, and reaction-time. Additionally, sleep deprivation can damage the immune system.

Disturbed sleep is the second classification of sleep disorders, and it describes the disruption of normal rest. The most common type of sleep disorder classified in this category is obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused either by a problem with the windpipe or a neurological disorder, and it results in loud snoring and blocked airways. This sleep disorder can cause a stroke.

Other types of sleep disorders that can be categorized as “disturbed sleep” include Restless Leg Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. Both are genetic disorders that cause involuntary movement in the arms and legs throughout the night.

Excessive Sleep

Finally, sleep disorders can be classified in the category “excessive sleep.” This is also known as narcolepsy. Narcolepsy causes patients to have sleep attacks, lasting for as little as a few minutes to as long as half an hour.

Complications of narcolepsy include cataplexy and hypnagogic hallucinations. Cataplexy is weakness or paralysis of the muscles, and hypnagogic hallucinations are vivid dreams that occur during the stage in between being awake and being asleep.

If you suffer from any type of sleep disorder, you should consult with your doctor to determine what form of treatment would be best for you. Inquire about natural treatments as there are natural remedies for sleep disorders as well as prescription medication.

Doctors can determine whether you need medication or not for your sleep disorder. They can also recommend discussion groups that you can turn to for support from others who suffer from sleep disorders.

Brue M. Baker, is an expert on natural health and fitness who has helped people all over the country sky-rocket their health and well-being. Rather than feel irritable, anxious, and depressed let Brue take you by the hand and introduce you to a guaranteed way to get a full night’s sleep, naturally.
Visit: www.SimpleSleepSecrets.com to learn more.

Soy is an excellent source of plant-based protein that can benefit those concerned about their heart and bone health, as well as their breast and prostate health.

Heart health benefits of soy: A meta-analysis of 38 studies indicates that consuming protein from soy foods is linked to retaining normal cholesterol levels. Another study suggests that soy protein may have antioxidant properties that helps protect bad(LDL) cholesterol from oxidizing.

Beyond the potential of soy protein to positively impact the cholesterol that travels through arteries, soy isoflavones may also support the healthy function of the arteries themselves. One study showed that menopausal women taking soy protein supplements (rich in isoflavones) experienced a significant improvement in elasticity of their arteries.

This elasticity has been shown to decline with age, a change that is viewed as a risk factor for cardiovascular health. Some scientists are predicting that these isoflavone effects may prove to be as valuable in supporting heart-healthy aging as their potential to retain normal cholesterol levels.

The American Cancer Society has created guidelines for a healthy diet: Choose most of the foods you eat from plant sources. Eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Eat other foods from plant sources, such as breads, cereals, grain products, rice, pasta, or beans several times each day.

Limit your intake of high-fat foods, particularly from animal sources. Choose foods low in fat. Limit consumption of meats, especially those high in fat. Be physically active: achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Be at least moderately active for 30 minutes or more each day. Stay within your healthy weight range. Limit consumption of alcoholic beverages, if you drink at all. For people who already drink alcoholic beverages, limit intake to two drinks a day for men and one drink per day for women. Soy foods fit guidelines 1 and 2 for a health-promoting diet.

Soy and bone health: Americans typically think of dairy products as the best source of calcium, but there are many other good sources of calcium. In fact, soy protein is an excellent source of dietary calcium, providing 50% of the daily value of this important nutrient per serving.

Soy protein may also offer bone-health advantages by replacing sources of animal protein in the diet. For long-term bone health, calcium intake is only part of the story. Urinary calcium loss is another factor that contributes to a negative calcium balance. High consumption of animal proteins, which are high in sulfur amino acids, appear to be responsible for this effect.

Soy protein, which has less sulfur amino acids relative to meat and other animal protein sources, may result in less calcium being lost in the urine and help keep calcium in the skeleton. In one study, calcium excretion was found to be 30% lower when dietary protein from soy sources was compared to equal amounts of protein from beef, fish, and chicken in healthy adults consuming a constant amount of calcium.

The isoflavones in soy foods may also help support healthy bones. A recent study showed that dietary intake of soy products containing isoflavones had a significant positive impact on bone turnover in healthy postmenopausal women.

Soy and breast and prostate health: It has long been known that many soy-consuming Asian populations have better rates of breast and prostate health than do Western populations. There are many factors involved in prostate health, but a recent, large-scale population-health study suggests soy intake as one of those factors.

In this study, men who reported frequently consuming soy milk (which contains isoflavones) were 70% more likely to maintain prostate health during a follow-up period, compared to the men who had little or no soy in their diet. A recent population-health study conducted in China investigated the relationship between soy intake during adolescence and breast health later in life.

After adjustments for known risk factors, higher soy food intakes reported during the teen years were associated with significantly better breast health when these women reached their pre-and post-menopausal adult years. Researchers believe that soy intake starting at a young age and continued throughout life is linked to maintaining breast health.

Another way that soy may promote heart, breast, and prostate health is by providing protection against oxidation damage. The soy isoflavone, genistein, has been shown to have antioxidant properties.

NOTE: While the totality of evidence suggests health benefits for soy protein , scientific opinion is not uniform on the appropriate use of soy by women with a history of breast cancer. I recommend that women with this history discuss the option of soy intake with their physician.

Soy protein and menopause: Cross-cultural studies of menopausal women have found that women in Japan experience a smoother transitional period than women in the West. Eleven soy foods are commonly consumed in Asian countries, providing an estimated 45 mg of isoflavones per day for the average person.

For the menopausal woman, soy protein has particular interest, as it is studied for both its apparent beneficial effect during menopause as well as for bone-building and helping to retain normal cholesterol levels.

Good luck on your journey towards health and wellness!

Brue M. Baker, is an expert on natural health and fitness who has helped people from all across the country sky-rocket their health and well-being. Rather than hitting your head against a wall trying every natural nutrition product out there, let Brue introduce you to what he has found to be the best natural health products on the planet. Visit DynamicHealthTips.com to receive Brue’s free newsletter.

What is a natural organic product? These days the answer to that question has become a bit confusing. Although an organic product is “literally” natural, according to regulations on how the food is grown, processed and labeled, the terms, “all-natural” “natural,” and “organic” mean three different things.

You, the consumer, should be aware of the differences between products that are labeled as “organic” and others that are labeled “natural.” Organic food is obviously the healthiest and purest food for you to eat, but unfortunately many food companies try to fool you by labeling their products with the word(s)natural or all-natural so you think it is as healthy as organic food, when in fact it is not.

I am not saying that natural food is bad for you, it just is not as healthy as certified organic food. Pay attention to the qualifications listed below so you will know what makes a product organic, or natural.

In the production of organic foods:

* Toxic pesticides are not used
* Soil fertility is maintained and replenished using natural methods such as crop rotation, fertilizer crops, composting etc.
* Regular soil and nutrition analysis are done to test soil fertility and food quality
* Natural methods of topsoil management are used to ensure minimal soil erosion
* Organic farmers aim to preserve and protect natural wildlife, vegetation and water systems
* Organic farmers are concerned about the loss of a variety of species
* No genetically modified seeds are used
* Organic growers collect seeds from the plants in order to preserve biodiversity

You will notice when you go food shopping that most organic food has a label on it that says it is a “certified organic product.” Each state has an agency that monitors and certifies organic food growers and producers.

The organic farm fields and processing facilities are inspected, and detailed records are kept. Also periodic testing of the soil and water takes place to ensure that strict standards are being met.

Don’t buy any organic food unless it is certified organic. If it is not certified it is more likely to be unsanitary or carry disease.

Natural products are similar to organic food in that they:

* Use minimally processed and do not contain artificial preservatives or additives
* Use natural meats and are not typically given antibiotics, hormones, or any growth promoting products
* In most cases do not use genetically modified products

Natural products differ, however, from organic products in that they are not inspected by an independent organization. Although they are usually healthier than regular processed food, there are no guarantees about the health quality of these products. This is the main concern with many natural products.

However, there are some supplement companies that do rigorous testing on their natural products to ensure their quality is equal to that of organic products. They are few and far between, but if it is a reputable natural health company they will usually provide critical information and the results of the independent testing right on the label.

Whatever you do, don’t buy into the “all-natural” phrase. It is simply a loop hole the big food companies have found to fool you that their normal (very unhealthy, processed, food) is natural, when it is not. There is hardly anything natural about it and there isn’t any regulation as to what that phrase entails so they can put on just about anything.

Pick up a product that claims to be “all-natural.” Read the ingredients and see how “all-natural” it really is.

It is shocking that food companies can play with our health like this. The average consumer does not know the difference between “natural,” “all-natural,” and “organic.”

So, as funny as it sounds there is really no such thing as a natural organic product because “natural” and “organic” have taken on two different meanings. If you are wondering why we have so much confusion over this issue, just thank the big food companies that have manipulated phrases and consumers so they can make more money by jumping on the organic bandwagon.

Brue M. Baker, is an expert on natural health and fitness who has helped people from all across the country sky-rocket their health and well-being. Rather than hitting your head against a wall trying every natural nutrition product out there, let Brue introduce you to what he has found to be the best natural health products on the planet. Visit DynamicHealthTips.com to receive Brue’s free newsletter.