Health - Wellness
The Vitamin You Need If You Have Trouble Sleeping
By ANNE TAYLOR
Do you find yourself tossing and turning in bed as you try to fall asleep at night? There are many things that can cause issues with sleep, including a lack of certain vitamins.
About 41% of Americans do not get enough vitamin D, and low levels of this vitamin can result in sleep disorders. Being low in vitamin C can also make it difficult to sleep, because vitamin C can help fight symptoms of stress.
A lack of calcium may also be to blame. "Low calcium intake is associated with difficulty falling asleep," said Robin Foroutan, MS, RDN, a dietitian nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "This could be because calcium helps our brain use the amino acid tryptophan to make melatonin, our sleep hormone."
Sleep allows our bodies and brains to rest and recharge after a long day of working hard. If you're having trouble sleeping, try to identify where you can improve and speak with your doctor about what to do.