Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, it can take an annoying amount of time before you drift off into the land of dreams.
But did you know there are products sold by pharmacies that could solve all your sleep (or lack of) woes?
From body sprays to magnesium flakes, here are some heath and well-being products that could help you fall asleep quickly, as sold on Pharmacy2U.
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Plus, we have some expert advice on the dos and don’ts before you go to bed, according to a doctor.
How to fall asleep quickly – tried these products?
BetterYou Magnesium Sleep Body Spray (100ml – £14.95)
This body spray combines Zechstein magnesium with lavender and chamomile and the magnesium supplement helps with “deep relaxation, a sense of wellbeing and natural, peaceful sleep”.
Pharmacy2U adds: “By combining this essential mineral with specially blended essential oils, Magnesium Sleep Body Spray is the perfect supplement to any night time routine to replace magnesium lost through modern diet and pressured lifestyles.”
Buy your BetterYou Magnesium Sleep Body Spray online.
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Skin 1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Sleeping Pack (30ml – currently on sale for £14.96)
The overnight sleeping mask features a “lightweight, gel-like texture that absorbs quickly into the skin without needing to be washed off”.
It’s made with five types of hyaluronic acid and melatonin, and aims to calm, moisturise and restore the skin while you sleep.
The pharmacy shares: “The melatonin boosts antioxidant levels to combat signs of aging, while the ceramide biome is absorbed as nanoparticles to strengthen the skins moisture barrier and improve elasticity.”
Buy your Skin 1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Sleeping Pack online.
BetterYou Magnesium Flakes Sleep (1kg – £10.50)
BetterYou Magnesium Flakes Sleep are made up of a “relaxing blend” of Zechstein magnesium, lavender and chamomile, ideal for soothing tired and aching muscles before a good night’s sleep.
Pharmacy2U explains: “Essential oils of lavender and chamomile help slow sensory activity and quieten the mind in preparation for sleep.”
It continued: “Magnesium chloride is wholly soluble, also referred to as totally ionised. This is vital to allow magnesium to break its bond and travel into the pores, through the dermal layers and into the bloodstream.”
Buy your BetterYou Magnesium Flakes Sleep online.
@dr.karanr Magnesium for sleep? Does magnesium help with sleep? DISCLAIMER: this is NOT medical advice. Just documenting something I experimented with during a bout of poor sleep after already optimising for other sleep habits (as mentioned in the video). Anecdotally I found some benefit but again this is an n=1 experiment and not necessarily applicable to everyone. The research into magnesium & sleep is poor currently but we know it’s a crucial nutrient linked to various physiological processes. Remember to always consult a medical professional before you take any supplement or medication! Whenever you’re trying to optimise any health habit always start with the endogenous first before looking at exogenous factors. P.S comment NOODLE and I’ll send you my newsletter where I’ll explain my sleep routine in detail! If you want to nerd out on research check these studies out: PMID: 33865376 PMID: 23853635 PMID: 21199787 PMID: 34883514
Withings Sleep Analyzer WSM02 (£129.95)
If you’re wondering what the Withings Sleep Analyzer is, Pharmacy2U reveals: “For the first time, a home sleep sensor provides lab-precise metrics along with the benefit of convenience most advanced sensors and technology to analyze your sleep and detect sleep apnea, a highly prevalent and underdiagnosed condition.”
You can track your sleep using the gadget in the Health Mate app – key features include:
- Snore detection
- Adavanced sleep tracking
- Sleep score
- Continuous heart rate tracking
- Home automation scenarios
- Developed with experts, backed by science
- Medical-grade sleep apnea detection
- Shareable sleep diary
Buy your Withings Sleep Analyzer online.
Rescue Peaceful Night 30 Capsules (£16)
New Rescue Peaceful Night Capsules are designed as a “unique way to help you unwind and relax” in preparation for a restful quality sleep so you awake feeling more refreshed.
They are an “active fusion” of botanicals, magnesium and vitamin B6 plus flower essences.
How to Live Longer
Buy your Rescue Peaceful Night Capsules online.
How to fall asleep when you can’t – according to an expert
Need more tips and tricks when it comes to falling asleep quickly (and easily)? Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, working with Happy Beds has the following advice:
Ensure you make time for sleep
“It shouldn’t be a last minute option. Set a bedtime and a wake up time and stick to it as much as you can, to ensure 7 hours of sleep.”
Go back to basics
“You need a comfy mattress, clean hypoallergenic bedding, blackout curtains and blinds or a black-out eye mask.”
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Keep your bedroom cool
“Overheating at night is a common reason for restless nights. Your body cools by around 1C just before sleep and your core temperature continues to fall after the onset of sleep and is at its lowest between 2 and 4am. The optimal bedroom temperature for sleep is 15C-19C. Try sleeping with the window open all year round, if needed.”
Make sure your bedroom is quiet
“However, background noise such as traffic, wind or rain sounds can actually help you sleep quicker, in some cases. You might like to try listening to sounds of nature, or a white noise app”
Don’t drink alcohol or caffeine within 4 hours or 6 hours of bedtime
“Alcohol has been shown to cause more night-time awakenings and impair REM sleep. Caffeine is a psychoactive stimulant designed to keep you awake and has a very long half-life.”
What are the best foods to eat before bed?
Dr Deborah commented: “Sticking to a balanced, nutritious, healthy diet is the best way to help you sleep. Research shows that adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) has benefits in terms of getting 7 hours of good quality sleep a night.
“The diet consists of lean protein, fish, healthy unsaturated fats, fruit and vegetables, dairy products, whole grains, nuts and seeds. The MD is a rich source of health-giving antioxidants which lowers levels of oxidative stress.”
For a good night’s sleep, try the following:
- Kiwi fruits – high in vitamin C and E. Eating two kiwi fruits an hour before bedtime has been shown to help you fall asleep faster.
- Sour cherries – these have exceptionally high levels of melatonin.
- Malted milk – this contains high concentrations of vitamins B and D, plus phosphorus, zinc and magnesium, all of which are important for sleep. Cows milk if they are milked in the evening, is a rich source of melatonin.
- Fatty fish – research shows that eating salmon 3 times a week is associated with better sleep. It may be because omega-2 fatty acids are needed to produce the hormone serotonin, also important for sleep.
- Nuts – many nuts are a great source of magnesium and zinc, as well as containing melatonin and omega-3 fatty acids.
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Dr Deborah added: “For a good night’s sleep, choose carbs with a low or medium GI index which release energy slowly and stop you from feeling hungry overnight.
“These might include green vegetables, chickpeas, and lentils.
“Medium GI foods include baked potato, oats, wholegrain bread, rice and pasta, and bananas.”
