September 2010
| Another date for your diary... |
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On the 29th we’ll be putting our clocks forward to reflect British Summer Time. Some experts believe that even one hour’s sleep loss can make a significant impact on our attention span and alertness. In fact studies report an increase in car accidents on the Monday following the Spring time change. So to help ensure you remain at the top of your game, awake feeling refreshed and full of vigour we’ve put together some helpful tips: Caffeine is a stimulant and may disrupt our natural wake-sleep cycle, avoid after 4 o’clock in the afternoon and instead choose a full flavoured herbal tea such as Yogi’s Rooibos tea. Skipping meals can disrupt our energy and blood sugar levels, aim to eat little and often, ideally every 3-4 hours. Snack on oat cakes topped with Chalice’s olive tapenade and select a low GI dinner such as Maharani’s Low GI rice served with a breast of chicken topped with a mushroom sauce. Tryptophan is an important amino acid which is required for the production of serotonin and melatonin, the brain chemicals which govern our wake-sleep cycle. Include foods rich in tryptophan such as low fat dairy, poultry, chocolate, dates, nuts and seeds. A bowl of chicken soup with an oat cake topped with nut butter is an ideal night time Supper, alternatively have a warm milky drink with a date and nut bar such as Tropical Wholefoods Organic Date & Walnut Bar. As we approach the clock change start to develop a wind down routine so your body gets into the habit of sleeping and waking at a similar point each day. Avoid mental or physical stimulation for a least an hour before you retire for the evening. Ref: Coren, S et al., (1996) “Daylight Savings Time & Traffic Accidents”, The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol 334:924-925 |