You heard that right. Presenting the cheap and accessible neighbourhood superhero that can ward off insomnia for you : coconut oil.
Gone are the stress free days where you could sleep to the sweet lullaby of your mother. Remember when you could just melt into a peaceful sleep right the second you hit the bed and that feeling of waking up fresh and energetic? Yeah, that seems like a modern fairytale now. But today is your lucky day. We are about to make your fairytale come true.
What Is Insomnia?
This is not a term that is unfamiliar to us. Most of us these days are haunted by the curse that is sleeplessness. There are a myriad of things that can cause sleeplessness or insomnia. It is advised to get yourself properly checked as this may be a symptom of something bigger like a mental health disease or even heart problems. But in most cases, it is caused by high levels of stress and anxiety, poor sleeping conditions like an uncomfortable bed, exposure to loud noises, lifestyle factors such as intake of high amounts of caffeine. In short, insomnia is when you lack enough sleep hormones such as serotonin and melatonin. This can affect not only your sleep, but also the proper functioning of your mind and body.
Do I Have Insomnia?
It is often difficult to identify if you are on a short sleepless streak or having insomnia. The following symptoms indicate the presence of insomnia.
- Difficulty to fall asleep
- Lying awake for large period during night
- Inability to take a nap despite being tired
- Disturbed or interrupted sleep
- Waking up tired and not refreshed
How Can Coconut Oil Help?
Coconut oil is a superfood with functionality beyond its usage in food. It can be incorporated in our life routines in various ways and the changes it may cause can be called nothing short of a miracle. Here’s how you can use it to rid yourself of sleeplessness.
- Ingesting 10ml or 1 tablespoon of coconut oil after dinner can help in production of hormones that aids in good sleep. Although coconut oil is an energy booster, it can also be used to assist in getting proper sleep. The fats in coconut oil gives you enough energy throughout the night to carry on proper functioning and as a result you tend not to get hungry.
- Coconut oil helps in maintaining blood sugar levels. Any spike or drop in the sugar level might cause interrupted sleep.
- Intake of coconut oil before sleep has been found to reduce interruptions during sleep and can help you wake up feeling refreshed.
- A good oil head massage followed by a cold shower can help in reducing stress and help in cooling you down. It is ideal to take a shower along with the massage an hour before dinner.
- Massaging your eyelids with warm coconut oil can help in inducing sleep and reducing baggy eyes and dark circles.
- Coconut Oil contains high amounts of Lauric acid and antioxidants which have proven to assist in good sleep.
All this being said, moderation is the key. Ingesting more coconut oil does not, in any way, get you more sleep.
Disclaimer : Always consult your doctor before adding any supplements to your diet. Only a doctor can specify the pros and cons that are specific to you.
