Sleep. It's the key to life. Without it, we can't function and when we're well-rested we can conquer the world. Lack of sleep increases stress, makes us irritable and cranky, and worst of all can lead to terrible health consequences ranging from obesity to heart disease.
It means that every small step you take towards improving your sleep is a giant step towards improving your health.
Optimizing your sleep environment is the key, and it starts with your nightly routine. Turning off your phone and computer an hour before you go to sleep and not eating before bed are two important things you can do right now to get better sleep.
If you've got that covered but still need to get to sleep faster and stay asleep longer, then it's a good idea to look for ways to get deeper sleep.
RESTED-AF is a pharmacist-formulated, scientifically proven sleep aid that was created to improve the speed at which you fall asleep and the rate at which your body reaches R.E.M to drastically improve the quality of your sleep.
The scientifically proven ingredients in RESTED-AF promotes deeper sleep to help maximize recovery, which in turn helps your body extract the most benefit from your training and nutrition.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a naturally occurring amino acid that works as a neurotransmitter in your brain. Neurotransmitters function as chemical messengers; GABA is considered an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
Its mechanism of action is to block or inhibit certain brain signals and decrease activity in your nervous system. It does this by attaching to a protein in your brain known as a GABA receptor, producing a calming effect.
This helps with feelings of anxiety, stress, and fear. GABA’s natural calming effect on the brain has led to countless claims about the use of GABA supplements to reduce stress. Too much stress is linked to poor sleep, a weaker immune system, and a higher risk of depression, among other things.
Fig: Changes of alpha/beta wave ratio values after administration of water (control), L-theanine, andγ-aminobutyric acid(GABA) measured by electroencephalogram (EEG).
L-Arginine is a conditionally essential amino acid found in the diet. It is a dietary supplement used primarily by athletes because it is the amino acid that directly produces nitric oxide via the nitric oxide synthase enzymes. Nitric oxide helps your blood vessels relax and expand, which is important for regulating your blood flow.
Ornithine is one of the three amino acids involved in the Urea cycle, alongside L-Arginine and L-Citrulline. These amino acids appear to reduce elevated ammonia levels when supplemented, and preliminary evidence suggests an ergogenic role due to this.
Valerian is an herb native to Asia and Europe. Its root has been used to promote relaxation and sleep since ancient times. Valerian root contains a number of compounds that may promote sleep and reduce anxiety.
These include Valerenic acid, Isovaleric acid and a variety of antioxidants. Valerian has received attention for its interaction with Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), a chemical messenger that helps regulate nerve impulses in your brain and nervous system. Researchers have shown that low GABA levels from acute and chronic stress are linked to anxiety and low-quality sleep.
Valerenic Acid has been found to inhibit the breakdown of GABA in the brain, resulting in feelings of calmness and tranquility. This is the same way anti-anxiety medications like Valium and Xanax work. Valerian Root also contains the antioxidants Hesperidin and Linarin, which appear to have sedative and sleep-enhancing properties. Many of these compounds may inhibit excessive activity in the amygdala, a part of the brain that processes fear and strong emotional responses to stress.
Fig: Plasma corticosterone levels in the control, physical stress with vehicle (PS-V) group, PS with Valerian Officinalis extract (PS-VE) group, psychological stress with vehicle (PCS-V) group, and PCS with VE (PCS-VE) group.
L-theanine is an amino acid found most commonly in tea leaves and in small amounts in Bay Bolete mushrooms. It is found in both green and black tea. Most known for helping people relax, L-theanine has many other potential health benefits, including:
Mucuna is a tropical legume that’s very rich in L-Dopa, is the precursor to Dopamine, Norepinephrine, and Epinephrine. It can promote healthy neurotransmission function and enhance your mood and immune system.
The mechanism of action for Mucuna is by increasing Dopamine in the brain. This neurotransmitter is responsible for modulating a number of cognitive functions including mood, hand-eye-coordination, and others.
Mucuna can be a powerful tool to improve memory and cognitive abilities. Research shows that L-DOPA was able to prevent the decrease in testosterone levels.
This is thought to be due to Dopamine’s ability to inhibit Prolactin (a hormone responsible for lowering the levels of luteinizing hormone and testosterone). Mucuna Pruriens (a natural source of L-DOPA as mentioned above) was shown to increase testosterone levels in infertile men from ages 25 to 40.
References:
GABA References:
Tyrosine References:
L-Arginine References:
L-Ornithine References:
Valerian Root References:
L-Theanine References:
Mucuna Pruriens References:
