The Importance of a Good Night’s Sleep

Many of us have faced the struggles of falling asleep at night. Whether you just can’t seem to find a comfortable spot, or your brain may not want to stop running, such an easy task seems so hard to accomplish. Statistics Canada estimates that one in three Canadians sleep less than the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep at night, making them sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation can lead to a multitude of day to day struggles such as irritability, decreased focus and concentration, mood changes, and difficulty remembering things. There are also various bodily effects that come from sleep deprivation such as a decreased immune system, weight gain, and an increase in stress and anxiety. For these reasons it’s important to get a good night’s sleep to ensure that you’re in good health and ready for your day ahead!

Benefits of a Good Night’s Sleep

The average adult needs a minimum of 7 hours of sleep each night, but the amount of sleep only partially contributes to a good night’s rest. It’s important to stay on a schedule, meaning you go to bed at the same time every night, and wake up at the same time every morning. This allows the body to get used to your sleep schedule, and allows it to know when to wind down at the end of the day, and when to wake up in the morning.

A main benefit of a good night’s rest include a decreased frequency in getting sick. Your immune system is directly affected by sleep. If you’re getting enough sleep at night the immune system has plenty of energy to protect you from illness! An additional benefit of good sleep includes a reduced amount of stress and an improved mood. When you don’t get enough sleep at night, the part of the brain controlling our “flight or fight” response is affected. A lack of sleep leads this part of the brain to be on high alert, causing the brain to react to situations a lot more strongly. This leads to us experiencing feelings of irritability and stress. With a good night’s rest, the “flight or fight” response is able to work as it should, without a disruption in alertness.

A good night’s sleep contributes to a lowered risk of various serious health problems, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A decrease in sleep has shown to have an effect on blood sugar levels, by creating a resistance to insulin in the body. This resistance to insulin is said to be a precursor to diabetes, as a resistance to insulin means high blood sugar levels in the body. Cardiovascular problems have been said to arise due to a lack of sleep because of the lack of rest time the heart has. When we go to bed at night, our body is able to relax, our heart rate is able to slow, and our blood pressure is able to drop. This allows the heart to recuperate from the stresses that it may have faced that day. With a lack of sleep, the heart isn’t able to relax and recuperate, and therefore will be working at a constant rate all the time. Making sure you get a good night’s rest every night allows not only your brain, but the rest of your body to recuperate from the day.

How THC and CBD Contribute to a Good Night’s Rest

For those who have consumed cannabis before, you know that THC works as a great sleep aid when used the right way, and using the correct strain. Indica strains are the best for inducing sleep, as an Indica strain will allow your body to relax, without the experience of a powerful head high. Using THC for sleep is great, as long as it’s done in moderation. Excessive and prolonged use of THC for sleep may lead to undesirable effects, such as the inability to enter the REM cycle of sleep. This can cause you to feel extra tired in the morning, even though you’ve had 7+ hours of sleep. When using THC for sleep, we recommend an Indica strain with an average THC percentage, not too high and not too low. This allows you to reap the relaxing benefits of an indica flower, without disrupting your REM cycle.

CBD on the other hand produces a much different effect to THC, but also contributes to being an amazing sleep aid! CBD is directly related to the easing of anxious and stressful responses. For that reason CBD allows the body to relax and unwind in order to fall into a peaceful sleep. Studies have shown that CBD has an impact on cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol is known as our stress hormone and CBD has shown to lower it significantly. This allows individuals to sleep through the night without disruptions more effectively. 

Sleep Products to Check Out

We have an awesome line of sleep products that we’d love to share with you. Whether you’re looking for relief from a sleep disorder, or just a better night’s rest, you’ve come to the right place!

Sleepy Time Gummy Bears: You can never go wrong with a cute little gummy bear. These bears are a perfect way to get a good night’s sleep, infused with 20mg of CBD per gummy bear and 5mg of melatonin. Additionally, these gummies are infused with other amazing sleep aids such as Lemon Balm, Valerian Root, Lavender, Chamomile, and Passion Flower. Available in a Regular, Sugar-free, and Fast Action options, they will do wonders for sleep!

Mota Sleep Tinctures: Mota sleep tinctures are another good sleep product! These tinctures come in a 1000mg CBD, 1000mg THC, or 1:1 (500:500mg THC:CBD) option, with an additional 150 mg of melatonin each bottle. These tinctures are sure to lift you right off into dreamland.

SleeBD Disposable Vape Pen: If you fancy smoking before bed, these vape pens are just for you! Packed with full spectrum CBD oil and the flavour of your choice, these vape pens are sure to relax you before sleep.

SleeBD Sleep Aid Capsules: The taste of CBD or THC may not be ideal for some, which is why we recommend a capsule instead! These CBD Sleep Aid Capsules don’t have a CBD taste, and work great for sleep as they contain additional melatonin. Coming in either a Raw or Mint option, these capsules are a great option for bedtime.

More Information

As always if you have any questions about the information that you’ve just read, don’t hesitate to email us at info@thehealingcowellness.com! We’re always happy to answer any questions you may have.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/national-sleep-apnea-health-risks-1.4925252

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/307334#effects-on-the-body

https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/topics/everyday-healthy-living/mental-health-and-relationships/get-enough-sleep#panel-2

https://mammothcomfort.com/why-does-lack-of-sleep-make-you-angry/

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/physical-health/sleep-and-blood-glucose-levels

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-deprivation/how-sleep-deprivation-affects-your-heart

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322945#does-cannabis-help-with-sleep

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cbd-and-sleep#research