GOOD OLD SLEEP- sleep & I have had an… interesting relationship, for as long as I can remember. I don’t know if it ties into my anxiety, but I have ALWAYS fought sleep. I can remember being a little girl and feeling a massive sense of doom when it came time for bed. It was bad, my parents couldn’t figure it out, I went to therapy, & really- not much worked.
To this day, I fight sleep. I wouldn’t say I am an insomniac, because once I fall asleep, I could sleep for literally 13+ hours. It’s just the act of falling asleep has always been hard for me. Some doctors have said in the past that I just have a different circadian rhythm & as long as I am getting 8 hours a night, I am good. Other’s have said I really should work on this issue of mine.
So- I have been trying to work on it.
First was the 4-7-8 sleep hack which I talked about in this post & it TOTALLY works for when you’re laying in bed writing an imaginary scroll of all things you have to do in the next 2 years/reliving every memory of your entire existence/worrying about every non-issue… but I needed more.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY LATEST OBSESSION….
My New Bedtime Beverage: The Blueberry Moon Milk Latte
I have always been a fan of Vital Proteins products & their Blueberry Moon Milk collagen latte powder is no exception. IT IS SO GOOD. Good enough that it deserved it’s very own *non-sponsored fyi* blog post.
Let’s break down why this powder has been working SO well when it comes to getting me to fall asleep, k?
♡ ASHWAGANDHA: Ashwagandha is an adaptogen (herbs/plants that are used in Ayurvedic medicine) & it contains a compound called triethylene glycol which helps reduce stress & improve the quality of your sleep. It also lowers overall stress levels & literally builds a resistance to mental/physical stress in your body. It is also anti-inflammatory & a powerful antioxidant.
♡ MAGNESIUM: Up until now, I was drinking Natural Calm powder before bed, which is just straight up Magnesium in powder form. Not just for sleep, but also to just relax before bed so I don’t grind my teeth while I sleep. Magnesium is great- it helps you achieve DEEP restorative sleep by regulating your bodies GABA levels. GABA is a neurotransmitter that promotes sleep, so when those are out of whack & not sending sleep messages clearly, dozing off will be hard. Magnesium keeps the GABA levels…. level.
♡ GABA: speaking of GABA, the Blueberry Moon Milk powder also contains straight up GABA to further boost your GABA levels. Low GABA is one of the main causes of insomnia, so boosting that GABA will help your brain to calm down & promote better sleep all around. ALSO- fun fact, eating fermented foods or taking live probiotics will also boost your GABA levels.
♡ MELATONIN: this one I am sure you heard of, usually it’s the first natural remedy recommended for people struggling with sleep. Melatonin is a hormone that is directly related to your sleep/wake cycle- as mentioned, my sleep/wake cycle is all messed up- so I definitely need melatonin in my life. ALSO- pro tip: bring straight melatonin with you when travelling internationally, it can help big time with jet lag.
♡ COLLAGEN: the Blueberry Moon Milk also contains 10g of bone broth collagen, which some people say further helps you relax, but I just love the added collagen for what it does to my hair/nails/skin. Collagen is a must & including it in my nighttime drink makes things so much easier. MULTITASKING!
NOW, here’s how I prepare this delicious beverage pretty much every night… it’s simple
STEP 1: put 2 scoops of the Blueberry Moon Milk powder in a cup & fill the cup with milk. Mix together using a fork.
STEP 2: put it in the microwave for a minute or until warm. EASY PEASY. If you prefer not to microwave cause you’re not lazy like me, go ahead & heat up the milk on the stove first & THEN combine it with the Blueberry Moon Milk Powder.
STEP 3: if you went the microwave route or you just added your hot milk to your powder- the next step is to froth it good. This is the world’s best frother, throw on the whisk attachment, & blend it together till there are no clumps.
STEP 4: pour your mixture into a mug & finish it off with coconut whipped cream! Obviously this is optional, but let me tell you- the coconut whipped cream on top is *chefs kiss* delicious. The Blueberry Moon Milk is made with coconut milk (dairy free!!!), so the addition of the coconut whip on top is a nice little added touch.
DRINK IT UP & GET READY FOR AN EPIC NIGHT SLEEP. I made a cup for Zack & he even said he slept amazing and had the BEST dreams.
