Sleep - Who doesn't want more? Interview with Naturopath Norelle Hentschel

Who doesn't love a good night sleep? I most certainly do. Since recovering from Adrenal Fatigue it's something I've really learned to prioritise.

I've had the pleasure of chatting to Naturopath Norelle Hentchel from Your Remedy to discuss all things sleep. Norelle's clinic is based in Crows Nest, North Sydney and has a special interest in helping women sleep better and manage stress and anxiety so they can reclaim their energy and health.

It was her personal struggles with sleep that really sparked her passion for a good night sleep.

Watch the interview here:

Here is audio only:

Below I've summarised a few key take away points from our chat together.

The definition of a good night sleep.

• The indication of a good night sleep has more to do with how you feeling during the day. After a good night sleep, you should feel energised, no mood swings, ability to focus really well and have a good appetite.

• Research show that the sweet spot for a good number of hours sleep a night is between 7-9 hours.

Factors that affect having a good night sleep:

Women

• For women sleep is usually affected by their hormone levels. Typically they experience better sleep during the 2nd phase of the menstruation cycle due to the increased levels of progesterone.

• Progesterone also has a calming effect on the brain and contains plenty of anti-anxiety properties too.

• Lack of iron is also known to interfere with sleep, especially mothers of newborns. So a good idea to get this checked

Children:

Factors than can affect sleep for children include the following:

• Illness can provide a short term interruption to good a night

• Food intolerances & sensitivities

• Night time asthma

• Anxiety

• Parasites & threadworm - a typical symptom of this would be itchy burning feet

How to improve sleep.

• Prioritise it

• Develop a wind down routine - think about activities such as writing out a to-do list before going to bed, journalling, having a cup of sleepy tea and get off technology at least 1hr before going to bed.

Foods to avoid & why.

• Caffeine - This has a half life of 8hrs which means it takes 8hrs for your body to break this. Your cuppa is best had during the first part of the day and also be aware of caffeine content in your chocolate fix before bed.

• Alcohol - Although this aids going to sleep, it affects the quality of your sleep and is best had 3 hours before going to bed

Norelle's message.

"Make sleep the super powers to have lots of energy & vitality to be the best version of one's self"

Norelle can be found online:

Instagram: YourSleepRemedy

Facebook: Your Remedy Naturopathy

Website: Your Remedy

Email:  info@yourremedy.com.au

Phone : 0439 660 064

If you need help with you or your child’s gut healing journey, book in for a free 15 minute call, email me or check out my work with me page to see if one of my programs are a suitable fit for you.

Chantal is a Certified Nutrition & Wellness Coach who specialises in working with stressed and overwhelmed mothers of immune & digestive challenged children to heal their child’ gut by implementing a wholistic personalised step by step plan.