Sleep – January 10, 2024

Sleep Debt: Can You Actually Pay It Back?

It’s 10 pm. You decide to check Instagram before you call it a night. A little harmless scrolling never hurt anyone, right? A quick scroll turns into hours and the next thing you know it’s 1 am. With a 7 am wake-up call, you are now in sleep debt. We’ve all been here. A stressful deadline to meet, friends want to catch up after work, or just a plain old binge session on Netflix to decompress after work. All of this doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. “So what if I lose a few hours of sleep, I’ll just make up for it on the weekend”, we tell ourselves repeatedly. But as we miss our bedtime for the third night in the week, the question that presents itself is ‘Can you actually catch up on lost sleep?’ Read along as we dive deeper to understand what ‘sleep debt’ actually means and why it is essential we do our best to not get more of it.  Okay let’s break it down, what is sleep debt? Sleep debt, in simple terms, is the amount of sleep you have lost by not getting your full night’s sleep for several nights or longer. Time for some simple sleep math - so if your body needs 8 hours of sleep and you have slept only for 6, you have racked up 2 hours of sleep debt. Staying up a night or two may not seem that much, but all those nights of less than adequate sleep add up. And yes, just like debt, it accumulates. So can you really pay it back? A simple answer would be yes but it’s a little more complicated than that. We often tend to think of sleep like a bank account. Withdraw one hour on Monday and deposit an extra hour on Sunday to maintain balance. However, lost sleep is more like a loan that we take from our bodies. And like every loan, there is an interest attached, well in this case a high one.  Research shows that even if we try to make up for the sleep lost over the weekend, our body still has a tough time catching up. While our body does recover, the extra hours put in later still affect our body’s ability to deal with stressors thereby leading to more significant concerns such as imbalanced hormones, impaired immunity and a rise in glucose levels.  Moreover, the weekend sleep-in strategy, which most of us tend to adopt, can mess with our circadian rhythm. This can make it harder to fall asleep on Sunday night, leading to more sleep debt the following week, and the cycle goes on. (1) A herbalist’s take on what you can do about it Our co-founder & herbalist, Vibha Harish, weighs in on what one can do to prevent and recover from sleep debt.  “Often we fail to understand the consequences that come with not prioritizing sleep. While it may not be immediately obvious, a lot of us have accumulated sleep debt over the years due to poor schedules,” says Vibha. The broken record of the health industry, ‘prevention is better than cure’, seems to be the case for sleep debt as well. “Maintaining good sleep hygiene and not letting the debt accumulate is the best strategy”, adds Vibha. In case you’re dealing with sleep debt, here’s what you can do about it:  #1 Good sleep hygiene goes a long way: Sleep hygiene is the most essential when it comes to dealing with sleep debt. These are all the things we’ve heard before - eat your dinner at least 2-3 hours before bed, avoid devices an hour before bed and get some sunlight first thing in the morning to align your body’s internal clock.  #2 Sleep earlier rather than waking up later: Our bodies starts to repair themselves by 10 pm onwards and hence, it is important that we carve out more time at night to go to sleep earlier rather than waking up later in the morning. (2) This also ensures that the loss of sleep doesn’t accumulate and it’s not harder to pay back on weekends. #3 Wake up at the same time: It’s essential that we maintain the same schedule of sleeping and waking up even on weekends. This means no sleeping in. (sorry!) Sleeping in on weekends disrupts our circadian rhythm and makes it harder for us to wake up on time on Monday morning.  #4 Short naps are better: We get it, life happens. As idealistic as health standards can sometimes get, we understand that some nights you won’t be able to follow your routine. The best thing to do in this case would be to take a short nap, no more than 20 minutes, during the day instead of sleeping in. (3) Ideally try to take a nap before 3 pm so that it does not interfere with your sleep at night.  #5 Exercise in the morning instead of evening: Exercising raises the body temperature which can be detrimental when it comes to sleep as melatonin is at its peak when our core body temperature (CBT) is at its lowest. (4) Hence, it is important that those with sleep troubles exercise during the day instead of in the evening or at night.  #6 Aid with herbal sleep allies: Herbs such as Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera) (5) and Chamomilla (Matricaria Recutita) (6) are great sleep allies that help to battle sleep debt as they help our body switch to a state of deep relaxation. Tagara is another powerful Indian herb that's safe for use and well-known for its mild sedative effects and anxiolytic properties. 

Sleep – January 20, 2022

The key to better sleep lies in your gut

At Cosmix, we love to sleep and believe in the power of rest. But what does it take to get better sleep - both in quality and quantity? Research now says that the answer may lie within our gut. 

Sleep – August 26, 2021

Sleep Like a Baby: All You Need to Know

Are the tires of your sleep cycle out of air? Does counting sheep of no help? Is sleeping easily and on time still a distant dream? You need Sleep Like a Baby in your life. But, first, here’s everything you need to know.  What exactly does Sleep Like a Baby do?  With its mindfully formulated blend of herbs, Sleep Like a Baby relaxes your body and mind and helps you wind down at the end of the day, so you can slip into sleep effortlessly. It contains adaptogens that support the body’s ability to adapt to various physical and emotional stressors, help alleviate fatigue and also stabilize emotional disturbances. How does it work? Sleep, as simple as the word appears, is a complex mechanism of the body’s way of handling the stressful activities you put yourself through, during the waking period. It ensures adequate rest for your internal machinery and prepares your body and brain to handle the following day efficiently. A good night’s sleep is also proven to improve memory and learning capacity.  The primary sleep controlling hormone in the human body is Melatonin – the sleep hormone – which signals your brain that it is time to sleep as it gets darker. It is thus observed that there are automatically higher levels of melatonin during the evenings. The indications for night and day are understood based on inputs from what is called the hypothalamus- a part of the brain that controls sleep, hunger, thirst etc. The hypothalamus uses a second messenger hormone called Serotonin – the happy hormone – to act on its own, as well as trigger the earlier mentioned Melatonin, and the duo then produce a wave of calm in the ‘wake’ regions of the brain. The ‘wake’ switch is then flipped, slowly, and the body thus enters a state of sleep. It is vital that both the hormones function optimally and at the right time to produce what is called ‘good sleep’.  Besides the principal process of sleep induction, the body, being very sensitive to any trigger whatsoever, is found to frequently override the ‘sleep switch’ should the person be in any state of stress, anxiety or pain. With a stressful event, there is a rise in Cortisol – the stress hormone – that switches the body to not merely ‘awake’ but ‘active’ mode, similar to a state of exercise. The body is deprived of the much needed sleep, and is exhausting reserves of energy to stay ‘active’ at an unnecessary time. This, in the long run, leads to fatigue and exhaustion when the energy reserves begin to deplete.  At this point, the agents in Sleep Like A Baby throw out the perfect calming lifeline to the body and induce a state of tranquillity, thus saving the body from excess levels of the stress hormone and in turn allowing the body’s own sleep mechanism to ensue. The antioxidants and anti-stressor agents fight off all that is keeping the body in the ‘wake’ mode by increasing levels of a certain hormone called GABA, which works to suppress over-activity of the brain. As the brain’s sleep-wake cycle is being regulated, quick onset and superior quality of sleep is achieved. What is the ‘Sleep Like A Baby’ made of? Ashwagandha, well known for its antioxidant and particularly, its anti-stress properties. It allays symptoms associated with stress and anxiety, which in turn produces a calming effect that helps with insomnia and improves quality of sleep. Jatamansi, also called Valerian root, promotes awareness, relaxation and support to the brain. It is a powerful calming agent used in improvement of initiation, duration and depth of sleep. Chamomile is a commonly used sleep inducer, usually available in tea form. However, its active agent- ‘Apigenin’, an antioxidant, has been extracted and is used in this mix which serves the same function as in the tea. It works to reduce anxiety and thus induce sleep. Schisandra is a potent adaptogen that supports the body’s ability to accommodate or ‘adapt’ to varying physical and emotional stressors – that reduces general fatigue, tiredness, irritability and sleeplessness. It also helps stabilize emotional disturbances and equips you to handle stress better. Sleep Like A Baby thus forms a 4-in-1 powerful product, in terms of efficacy and potency when compared to its counterparts. How much should I take? Most of our customers have found helpful results with consumption of 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of the mix.  When should I take it? The mix can be taken 15 to 30 minutes before bedtime, allowing for a minimum onset time. It may be consumed with a glass of milk or warm water, as per your preference. Does it have any side effects? Sleep Like A Baby is a combination of naturally occurring herbal plants in extremely minute quantities, enough only to produce desirable effects on the sleep-controlling region of the brain. This concentration, therefore, is not expected to produce any undesirable side effects. Our customers, having been regular consumers of Sleep Like A Baby, have been extremely happy with the results and have had no complaints so far. However, it must be borne in mind that certain people’s bodies respond differently to different plant products and hence, kindly seek professional help in case of any unprecedented symptoms. How quickly does it act? As is for most foods, the mix is expected to have an onset of action ranging between 10 and 30 minutes on an average. This depends on factors such as: the previous meal, activity being engaged in prior to sleep etc. We suggest winding down from your day an hour before bedtime, for best results! Will I be groggy the next day? Sleep Like a Baby is formulated with utmost care to provide you with just the right amount of sleep - no more, no less. The mix has shown to lend a satisfying sleep onset and waking experience for most of our users, with no feedback of residual drowsiness so far.  However, each user’s experience is unique to their body metabolism and should you feel anything unusual, kindly provide us with your feedback. Will it help with my insomnia? The chart-topping cause for insomnia is mental stress, anxiety stemming from work pressure, familial matters, relationships etc., which are often ignored. While addressing the root cause of insomnia is key to eradicating sleep irregularity altogether, if this is a one-off situation for you, then Sleep Like A Baby may come to the rescue and alleviate any temporary cause of worry, thus allowing you to get deep sleep for the desirable duration.  Multiple customers, suffering from sleeplessness on various occasions, have provided us with extremely positive feedback on how the mix has helped them achieve good sleep, some with just a single use! If my sleep pattern regularizes, should I stop? A regular sleep pattern is a reflection of positive mental health. It is prudent to maintain its regularity and thus, reap the benefits that follow a good, healthy sleep-lifestyle. If Sleep Like A Baby has helped regularize your onset and duration of sleep, we recommend continuing its usage as it is not medication of any kind. It simply helps your brain get the rest it deserves.  Should I only take this when I have issues falling asleep? While trouble falling asleep can be an induction point to your journey with Sleep Like A Baby, we advocate its usage at the end of any kind of day you may have had. Be it that of coming home from a tiring day at the office, anticipation for an exciting next morning, or simply that you’re bored and can't fall asleep, make yourself a milkshake with the mix and enjoy your dreams! How is this different from sleeping pills? Sleeping pills are chemical compounds designed to drastically affect neurotransmitters (chemicals in your brain that help in communication between parts of the brain) and thus treat sleep-related medical conditions. These medicines function as a substitute to the naturally occurring bodily hormones and thus take over their function so as to control the dysfunctional machinery.  Sleep Like A Baby, on the other hand, has no similar structure to that of the medicines and merely allows the body to do its own job by gently assisting it in the process. It acts to prevent negative influences that may hinder the natural cycle, thus making it body-friendly. Is it addictive? No. Since it has no particular medical properties that are used to treat diagnosed conditions, it, correspondingly, does not have addiction causing properties and it can be consumed without any worries.  Can this product be given to children? Childhood sleep related disorders often require medical attention. Apart from conditions that warrant treatment, children do not normally suffer from sleeplessness caused by stress or anxiety, as they have agile and quick-acting systems to address benign issues. We, therefore, do not advocate giving this product to children. Is this safe for pregnant and/or lactating women? The components pose no imminent risk to pregnant or lactating mothers. However, we do not recommend its usage in such states without the supervision of a doctor. Can this be taken along with other medication? That would depend entirely on the condition and the medication prescribed. Although we do not expect there to be any detrimental interaction between our mix and the medication, we advise consulting with your physician before its use. Can this mix be combined with other Cosmix products? Yes, of course! Most of our other products can work hand-in-hand with Sleep Like A Baby. Except, of course, All Day Energy, for obvious reasons.  Does this also help with excessive sleepiness? Hypersomnia is, in most cases, the result of too much stress hormone! It simply represents a later stage in the domino effect of altered body hormones and comes right after the ignored stage of sleeplessness. So, the answer is, yes! Sleep Like A Baby will help in bringing the cycle back to normal to a large extent. Hypersomnia, by itself, can be explained by sleep cycle irregularity. However, in case of any other symptoms or prolonged hypersomnia, we suggest a diagnosis by a qualified medical personnel.  Here’s a wholesome milkshake recipe you can try. Ready to give Sleep Like a Baby a shot? Click here!

Sleep – February 22, 2021

How to Sleep Better: All You Need to Know

Getting a good night's sleep can be tricky with so much going on in our lives. But we all know how great we feel after a solid rest. Sleep helps our mood, mind, and overall well-being. So how can we make sure we're getting the best sleep possible?  In this blog, we will be diving into a few factors that affect our sleep and how we can improve our sleep quality,  by answering some critical questions.  Why do I need quality sleep?Sleep is a vital, often neglected, component of every person's overall health and well-being. Why? Because it enables your body to repair itself and recharge for another day. We think skimping on sleep can help us squeeze in extra work, but we could not be further away from the truth. A solid, undisturbed 8 hours of sleep boosts our energy levels, improves focus and helps us concentrate better, which in turn means, you can get a lot more work done in fewer hours than you would if you were working sleep-deprived. That’s not all, sleep is also one of the key pillars of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and better endurance and stamina during workouts. Our sleep patterns also affect our appetites. Our hunger levels are much more under control when we maintain a healthy sleep cycle. Also, we’re a lot less grumpy, grouchy, moody when we’re well-slept!   How do I know if my sleep quality is good or bad?You could be sleeping for 8 hours, but chances are it’s not doing you much good because it’s poor sleep quality. Here are some signs your sleep quality needs to improve as much as sleep duration: You wake up in the middle of the night almost every day You feel tired and drained even after sleeping for a full 8 hours You feel irritable and moody during the day You suffer from sleep apnea  You have a strong urge to take naps during the day You take more than 30 minutes to fall asleep You lie awake for more than 20 minutes when you wake up in the middle of the night How does stress affect sleep?With a stressful event, there is a rise in Cortisol – the stress hormone. Not only does this switch the body into ‘awake’ mode, it sends the body into ‘active’ mode, similar to a state of exercise. So instead of winding down and replenishing its energy reserves, the body is wide awake exhausting your remaining energy reserves to stay ‘active’. This in turn leaves you wide awake but equally exhausted. Does my phone affect my sleep?YES, IT DOES!I know the usual logic is that we scroll through our phones in bed to tire our eyes out and lull ourselves into drowsiness. But, trust me, what you’re actually doing is delaying your sleep! The light from your screen affects the production of the sleep hormone melatonin, which is also responsible for our sleep-wake cycle. This hormone is secreted in the dark (i.e. nighttime). Keeping your eyes glued to your screen also tricks your brain into thinking it has to be awake and alert when it doesn’t need to! So, put your phone away, and focus on some restful breathing techniques instead! Do sleeping pills help?There are sleeping pills/tonics that are available either via prescription or over the counter. These are synthesized to depress your central nervous system, slowing down your breathing and reflexes and causing drowsiness. Do they serve a purpose? Certainly!  But as with a lot of medicines, these only address the symptoms and not the root cause. Addressing the root cause of sleep issues is important so that they can be treated at the source and ensure they don’t keep coming back.  Herbalism and Ayurveda have several solutions to sleep issues, including adaptogenic herbs that address the root cause. Sleep Supplements you can takeAn equally effective, safer alternative is an all-natural sleep supplement like Cosmix’s ‘Sleep Like a Baby’. This mix is a combination of antioxidants and anti-stressor agents, that help wind down the body and relax the mind, to gently nudge you towards deep and restful sleep. How can a plant mix do THAT with zero side effects or cause for concern? It’s not magic, it’s pure herbs. Sleep Like a Baby is chock full of adaptogenic ingredients that are completely non-toxic, have no side effects and work harmoniously to regulate your body’s sleep cycle. Some of the hero ingredients are -  Schisandra Berry: This potent adaptogen reduces fatigue and helps undo the effects of stress on the mind and body. Its non-toxic plant agents support the body’s ability to ‘adapt’ to various stressors. This, in turn, reduces general fatigue, irritability and sleeplessness. Jatamansi: Also called Valerian root, it’s part of an ancient remedy for insomnia. Jatamanshi is a natural sedative and promotes awareness, relaxation and support to the brain. A potent calming agent, it helps improve initiation, duration and depth of sleep.  Ashwagandha: This therapeutic adaptogenic herb central to Ayurveda is known for its anti-stress properties. It allows your body to tackle the symptoms associated with stress and anxiety and produces a calming effect that helps improve the quality of sleep.  Sleep Like a Baby is an all-natural formulation that gives your body the natural ingredients that help you relax, unwind and regulate your natural sleep cycle. Get yours here.  References: How Sleep Works - Why Is Sleep Important? | NHLBI, NIH The impact of stress on sleep: Pathogenic sleep reactivity as a vulnerability to insomnia and circadian disorders - PMC Effect of restricting bedtime mobile phone use on sleep, arousal, mood, and working memory: A randomized pilot trial - PMC