Sleep Deprivation Among Teens

It is suggested that teens are not getting enough sleep or enough deep sleep. Sleep deprivation among many teens causes drowsiness, fatigue, and is responsible for almost 50,000 teenage caused traffic accidents each year.

It also leads to disciplinary problems, poor concentration and memory which can reflect in their grades and job performance, and it can lead to depression, ADHD, and more.

One of the best things that teens can do to alleviate sleep deprivation is go to bed a little earlier and turn off their smartphone or laptop and other electronic devices at least an hour before they intend to go to bed.

Natural Remedies for Sleep Deprivation Among Teens

Unplugged

Whether its texting your BFF, doing homework, playing video games, or watching a movie – those screens may be playing games with your brain and affecting your sleep.

Researchers have found the bright lights of technology signals your body that it is daytime and that it isn’t time to go to bed yet. Research has found this keeps your body from producing melatonin, the hormone that regulates your sleep-wake cycle.

So turn off the lights of your smartphone, video game, or computer an hour or two before you go to bed. You may also want to try the supplement melatonin to help with sleep, taking it about half hour before bed so that your body and mind are ready for lights out!

Eating Your Way to Sleep

There are some foods that will literally put you to sleep.

So if your teen has trouble sleeping, make them a snack that consist of warm milk with a touch of honey, a turkey sandwich, or some mashed potatoes with a banana on the side, or try oatmeal and almonds.

Warm Milk

Warm Milk is a historical sleep aid that has been scientifically proven to work. Milk contains tryptophan and amino acids that act as mild sedatives and when you warm milk up it helps release these substances.

Add a drop or two of honey to the milk and the glucose found in honey will tell your brain its time to stop making orexin, a hormone made to keep you alert.

Herbal Tea

Herbal tea can be a great milk substitute. Specifically Chamomile for its sedative effect, Sleepytime tea which is a combination of herbs, or there is passionflower tea or St Johns wart to try.

Turkey Sandwich

Turkey has high levels of tryptophan and serotonin in the turkey. These two substances work together to get your body to go to sleep. Have the turkey sandwich on whole meal bread which will also help your body shut down for sleep.

Other Foods to Help Sleep

  • Potatoes in mashed or baked form will help the body flush out amino acids and prepare for sleep.
  • Bananas contain serotonin, tryptophan and magnesium that will help your body ease into sleep.
  • Almonds contain magnesium which can act as a muscle relaxant and a few chewed before bed can help you fall asleep.
  • Oats as you find in regular oatmeal will act as a nerve tonic and antidepressant, which helps fight the stress that can keep you awake.

Natural Supplements to Fight Sleep Deprivation

There are many types of natural supplements that can act as a sleep aid that may help fight against sleep deprivation in your teen. All things do not work for all people so it is good to try one of these for a few nights and see if there is an improvement in the amount of time it takes them to go to sleep and if they wake up refreshed.

These supplements include:

  • Lavender Oil for aromatherapy
  • Lemon balm
  • Chamomile
  • Hops
  • Passion flower
  • American scull cap
  • Corydalis
  • Bitter orange
  • Valerian Root