Tag: Kenko PowerSleep Mask

What Happens to Your Body During Sleep?

Published on by Nikken

Were you ever told not to eat too much before going to bed at night? Or to make sure you apply moisturizer at night? It’s because your body is busy repairing cells and finishing digestion while you sleep. Those are just two key activities your body performs during sleep.

Hormone production changes during sleep. Growth hormone production increases while stress hormones decrease. In fact, cortisol, known as the stress hormone, goes down when you fall asleep but then rises again, before you wake up. Melatonin, on the other hand, rises when you are ready to sleep and falls when daylight approaches. In healthy bodies, kidneys make less urine during sleep, so you don’t have to get up to use the bathroom during a good night’s rest.

Another change the body undergoes during sleep is body temperature. It goes up and down a bit throughout the day, but at night, body temperature tends to be one to two degrees lower than during the day. The lower body temperature helps you stay asleep because humans sleep better when cooler. To prepare for the next day’s activities, your body temperature starts rising as morning approaches.

“Sleep is a period during which the brain is engaged in a number of activities necessary to life—which are closely linked to quality of life,” says Johns Hopkins sleep expert and neurologist Mark Wu, M.D., PhD.1 Throughout your time asleep, your brain will cycle repeatedly through two different types of sleep: REM (rapid-eye movement) sleep and non-REM sleep.

The first part of the cycle is non-REM sleep, which is composed of four stages. The first stage comes between being awake and falling asleep. The second is light sleep, when heart rate and breathing regulate and body temperature drops. The third and fourth stages are deep sleep. Though REM sleep was previously believed to be the most important sleep phase for learning and memory, newer data suggests that non-REM sleep is more important for these tasks, as well as being the more restful and restorative phase of sleep.2

As you cycle into REM sleep, the eyes move rapidly behind closed lids, and brain waves are similar to those during wakefulness. During the day, your breathing changes a lot, depending on what you’re doing and feeling. During non-REM sleep (about 80% of an adult’s sleeping time), you breathe slowly and regularly. But during REM sleep, your breathing rate goes up again, which also dreaming time. Breathing also becomes more shallow and less regular during this sleep phase. Some of it may be due to throat muscles relaxing. It may also be due to less movement of the rib cage during REM sleep. Whenever you’re sleeping, your oxygen levels are lower and your carbon dioxide levels are higher because your level of breathing goes slightly down.3

During non-REM sleep, your brain takes a real rest; however, during REM sleep, your brain may be even more active than when you’re awake! Blood flow to the brain and metabolism in the brain increases during REM sleep, which supports activity. Your brain also uses your sleep cycles to consolidate memories. So, staying up all night to cram for a test or a special work project might be counterproductive.4. In other words, when you sleep too little, you are unable to process what you’ve learned during the dayand have more trouble remembering it in the future. Simply put, restful sleep is important so that your body can utilize the time to rejuvenate and ensure optimal levels of immunity, metabolism and brain function.

Throughout the month of October, Nikken is offering 20% off our Kenko sleep products (except for the Kenko PowerSleep Mask) plus free ground shipping. The Makura Sleep Packs are already priced with a 10% discount, but we’re adding another 10%, so you still get 20% off plus free ground shipping. Take advantage of this great sale to help your entire body enjoy the luxury of restful sleep!

1, 2 https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-science-of-sleep-understanding-what-happens-when-you-sleep

3, 4 https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/what-happens-body-during-sleep

Do You Like Winter Weather?

Published on by Nikken

There are lots of people who prefer cold to hot, and that includes their preferences for weather! Do you tend to think of vacations being time spent at the beach, in the balmy tropical weather, sunshine and swimming, or do you prefer holidays spent in the snow—skiing, snowboarding, sledding, making snowmen and having snowball fights?

Psychologists have looked into seasonal preferences to better understand the mood and behavioral changes that temperature and light variations have on people. Personal preferences seem to reveal specific personality traits. For example, your cognitive performance, your preference for certain colors and different types of music, and the kind of foods you tend to eat all vary over the course of the year.One study conducted in Belgium found that people had the hardest time keeping their focus in the summer and the easiest time doing so in the winter.1

The seasons also appear to influence how kind you are to others. For example, charitable contributions in countries with Christian traditions increase dramatically around Christmas. People in these societies are also more likely to tip their waiters generously during the holiday season. Aggressive behavior, from horn honking to violent crime tends to peak in the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere.2

Who likes winter? If you count the chilly months of winter as your favorite season, it might mean that you tend to be a bit of an introverted homebody.3 Does a warm sweater and curling up on the couch with hot cocoa on a cold night sound like your ideal afternoon? Here are some other types of people who enjoy winter:

•          Thermophobes. In Latin, therm means heat and phobe means fear.

•          Winter sport fans. As mentioned above, skiers, snowboarders, sledders, etc.

•          Those sensitive to the sun. If you sunburn easily and are always applying sunblock or searching for an appropriate sun hat, overcast or snowy winter days provide some relief.

•          Those sensitive to bug bites. One winter blessing is the decrease of mosquitoes and other “biting” insects.

Whether or not you’re a fan of winter, Nikken has the perfect products to make your cold weather days the coziest ever. From the Kenko Dream Comforter of your choice to the KenkoTherm support products, Nikken takes its lead from nature and weaves in ceramic reflective fibers to help keep you toasty. And, when you purchase a Kenko Naturest® Fit mattress topper now through year end, you receive a complimentary Kenko PowerSleep Mask!

1, 2 https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/unserious-psychology/202306/how-the-seasons-affect-our-psychology

3 verywellmind.com/what-your-favorite-season-say-about-personality

Let’s Have Some Fall Fun!

Published on by Nikken

Fall is a wonderful season to tap into the child within you! You can delight in the cool weather with the changing colors of the leaves, and watch the beauty of nature transform all around you. Let’s make sure to participate in autumn’s seasonal pleasures!

•          Depending on where you live, fall is a great time to visit an apple orchard. Many will allow you to pick your own, and it comes out to be less costly than apples at a grocery store. This is an activity the whole family can enjoy together, and there’s a special joy to crunching down on a freshly picked apple.

•          October and November are pumpkin months. Pumpkins are not only nutritious and delicious, they make for some messy fun. When you dig the seeds out, save them for roasting!

Pumpkin-carving can be loads of fun, even amid the mess and slime! If you live where there are pumpkin carving contests, you’re probably already a pro! Now’s the time to indoctrinate the little ones. Don’t forget to make pumpkin pie and pumpkin stew.

•          Even if you live in the heart of a city and now anywhere near the countryside, autumn is a great time to try your hand at making a bird house. You can buy pre-made ones in many sizes and shapes and paint them, or if you’re handy at carpentry, start one from scratch. You’ll be amazed and happy when you hang it up and the birds come around—even outside an apartment building!

•          Visit an autumn harvest festival. If you live near any kind of agricultural center, there’s bound to be an autumn festival for you to attend. There will be lots of activities, possibly costumes, petting zoos, baking contests and more.

•          Make a fall wreath. Collect fallen leaves of a variety of hues, find acorns, pine cones, twigs, add seeds. Add dried flower petals and anything else your creative mind suggests. A wreath made from the gifts of nature is the most beautiful wreath of all.

•          Make it a point to take a nature walk as often as possible during the autumn months, if not for the visual delight, then for the sheer exhilaration of a brisk walk on a windy day.

•          Fall weather is soup weather. Make use of the abundance of squash (pumpkins are great in soup!) and add all your other favorite veggies. Spice it up and the whole family will love it.

•          Most people love cookies, but again, the cool autumn weather is great for being in a warm kitchen and creating the smell of freshly baked cookies! Even toddlers like to help out.

•          Do you have a farmer’s market in your area? Even if you don’t go to one regularly, go during the autumn months. You won’t be disappointed at the many varieties of fruit and vegetables. This is also the time of year where artisans come out with their crafts and rent stalls along with the farmers.

As you get cozy with autumn, remember that until year end, whenever you purchase a Kenko Naturest® Fit mattress topper you’ll receive a complimentary Kenko PowerSleep Mask. And, whenever you purchase a PiMag Waterfall®, you’ll get a box of 30 packets of delicious Kenzen Jade GreenZymes® Citrus as our treat!

Getting Restful Sleep During Autumn Weather

Published on by Nikken

Did you know that the seasons can affect your sleep? When the cooler months come around, sleep may be disrupted. That’s because your body naturally makes more melatonin—the hormone responsible for sleepiness—when there’s more sunlight. During the cooler months, when days are shorter and darker, less melatonin is manufactured by your body.

One of the biggest culprits of disrupted sleep schedules is the use of electronic devices. This is due to the blue light emitted from electronic devices. The blue light suppresses the natural production of melatonin by the body, so you may not be able to fall asleep easily when you barely went off your cell phone, tablet or computer. You might want to try shutting down electronic devices an hour before your bedtime.

Developing a sleep routine, the same way parents sleep-train children, can help you reach restful sleep faster. By doing the same relaxing things consistently, your body has a chance to get accustomed to the routine and to anticipate sleep. The bedtime routine allows your brain to relax and not have to react to something unexpected. Although the body does not do well with electronic devices close to bedtime, it does react well when reading or listening to music. Choose reading material that is relaxing and listen to something soothing.

What you eat and drink can affect your sleep. If you go to bed hungry, chances are you won’t get a sound sleep, and the same thing goes for eating too much. Hunger will wake you up and overfullness makes the digestive system work harder. When it comes to beverages, caffeinated and alcoholic ones can cause insomnia in some people, so try to avoid them or enjoy them no later than afternoon tea time.

The most obvious way to help get a great night’s sleep is to make sure your bedding is comfortable. Nikken is a pioneer in sleep technology, and we want everyone to try the Kenko Naturest® Fit. This mattress topper can change the softest or the hardest bedding into the ideal sleep surface. The special sculptured rubberthane latex provides a relaxing massage effect and allows for air movement. Ceramic reflective fibers help provide an ideal temperature while a magnetic field cocoons the body for a feeling of security.

Now through December 31, 2023, when you purchase any size of the portable Kenko Naturest® Fit, you’ll receive a complimentary Kenko PowerSleep Mask that not only helps to block out light but also to keep your eye area relaxed. We call them “perfect partners” that can make your autumn months the most restful ever!

Sleep Better to Work and Feel Better

Published on by Nikken

What a difference a good night’s sleep can make! We work better, feel better and consciously or not, we treat people better when we’re well rested. In fact, the importance of sleep continues to be a hot topic. Nikken has been advocating for restful sleep with the help of advanced magnetic technology way before it became one of the primary focuses of Active Wellness practitioners!

Just how important is sleep for Active Wellness and overall health? In a 2018 study, Mayo Clinic scientists found that sleep deprivation increases the likelihood of age-related memory loss.1 This follows a 2017 study that linked poor sleep to higher levels of other biological markers associated with age-related brain conditions.2 Another 2018 study even determined that one sleepless night alone can be damaging, leaving behind harmful protein debris in your brain.3

The National Sleep Foundation’s (NSF) annual Sleep in America® poll shows Americans feel sleepy on average three times a week, with 62% trying to “shake it off” as their primary response. Those who feel sleepy five to seven days a week report especially high rates of irritability (52 percent), headaches (40 percent), and feeling unwell (34 percent). The Sleep in America poll found when people feel sleepy, more Americans say it’s generally because they’re not sleeping well enough (55 percent) as opposed to not having enough time to sleep (44 percent).4

To help achieve restful sleep, The National Sleep Foundation advises us to focus on maximizing comfort and minimizing distractions:

•            Use a high-performance mattress and pillow, such as the KenkoNaturest® Custom Pillow. This helps with comfort and the support of the spine to avoid achy muscles and joints.

•            Choose quality sheets and blankets. Again, this is to help with comfort and maintenance of suitable temperatures throughout the night. The Kenko® Dream Comforter is ideal to snuggle under during cool nights.

•            Avoid light disruptions. Excess light exposure can throw off sleep and circadian rhythm. Use blackout curtains or a comfortable sleep mask, such as the Kenko PowerSleep Mask, to block out light.

•            Keep noise to a minimum. If you can’t eliminate nearby sources of noise, consider drowning them out with a fan or white noise machine. Earplugs or headphones are another option to block abrasive sounds when you want to sleep.

•            Make sure the room temperature is not too hot or cold by using heaters, fans and air conditioning as necessary. Researchers have found that sleeping in a cooler environment of around 65 degrees Fahrenheit is conducive to restful sleep.5

From November 1 through December 31,2020, the discounted Nikken “Cozy Winter” Packs not only help you to reap the health benefits of a good night’s sleep but also to expand your Global Wellness Community when you share it with others.

1 D. Carvalho et al. Association of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness with Longitudinal Β-Amyloid Accumulation in Elderly Persons Without Dementia JAMA Neurology. Vol. 75, June 2018. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.0049.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/article-abstract/2674279

2 Sprecher KE et al. Poor sleep is associated with CSF biomarkers of amyloid pathology in cognitively normal adults. Neurology. 2017 Aug 1; 89(5): 445-453.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5539733/

3 Shokri-Kojori E et al. Β-Amyloid accumulation in the human brain after one night of sleep deprivation. PNAS April 24, 2018. 115 (17) 4483-4488;
http://www.pnas.org/content/115/17/4483

4 https://www.sleepfoundation.org/press-release/nsfs-2020-sleep-america-poll-shows-alarming-sleepiness-and-low-action

5 https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/healthy-sleep-tips

Do You Have Trouble Sleeping During Springtime?

Published on by Nikken

Some people have a hard time getting a good night’s sleep during the spring season. There are several reasons for this, and there are measures that can be taken. Although spring is the season that many look forward to as they emerge from the cold, gray winter weather, there’s a price to pay for warmth and longer sunlit hours. The sun may actually rise before your body is ready for it, and the light suppresses melatonin production, the hormone that makes you sleepy.1

Other reasons for poor sleep quality during the spring months include the onslaught of allergies (to pollen and other airborne allergens) and an energy surge. Just as melatonin decreases, serotonin levels rise in the spring, boosting energy levels and making it more difficult to sleep at the usual time.2 The good thing is that a rise in serotonin directly influences people’s feelings of happiness, so perhaps you are in a better mood when spring arrives.

It’s hard enough to get sufficient restful sleep, but have you heard the cruel truth that while you suffer from sleep deprivation, you actually tend to gain weight? Here’s why: During sleep, leptin levels increase, telling your brain you have plenty of energy for the time being and there’s no need to trigger the feeling of hunger or the burning of calories. The decrease in leptin brought on by sleep deprivation can result in a constant feeling of hunger and a general slow-down of your metabolism. Ghrelin, on the other hand, tells people when they need to eat. People who don’t sleep enough end up with too much ghrelin in their system, so the body thinks it’s hungry and it needs more calories, and it stops burning those calories because it thinks there’s a shortage.3

You can improve the quality of your sleep and recharge this spring with these simple tips:

  • Establish and maintain a bedtime ritual. Just as children benefit from a repetitive bedtime routine that gears both body and mind for sleep, so do adults. Whether it’s taking a shower, reading or meditating, try to consciously lay in bed and relax from the head down, one muscle group at a time. Slow down your breathing.
  • Visualize images instead of words.4 Envision something calming in your mind rather than focusing on lists or things you heard or said throughout the day. Focus exclusively on Active Wellness images.
  • Shorten or eliminate daytime naps. According to the Mayo Clinic, limit yourself to 10 to 30 minute naps and make sure you take them no later than mid-afternoon.5
  • Keep your bedroom temperature on the cool side. The National Sleep Foundation recommends keeping the temperature between 60 and 67 degrees.6 The slightly cool temperature is believed to help the body relax and stay asleep.
  • Exercise daily. Expending energy during the day helps your body feel tired enough to go to sleep faster.
  • Limit the use of electronic devices at least an hour before your bedtime. The light that emanates from a laptop or cell phone activates the brain.7
  • Eat a Mediterranean diet that is rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, beans, whole grains, fish and olive oil. Eating a well-balanced diet helps maintain feelings of well-being, which in turn helps you sleep.
  • When the sun shines before your alarm, it may cause you to wake too early. To sleep on your own schedule rather than the sun’s, keep your room dark. A simple solution is to wear a Kenko PowerSleep Mask that not only blocks out light but also includes patented DynaFlux® magnetic technology that may help you sleep better.
  • Make sure your bed is comfortable and your covers keep you comfortably cool or warm. Kenko Sleep Products help you do just that.

 

1https://www.sleep.org/articles/refresh-your-sleep-this-spring/

2https://www.beliefnet.com/wellness/articles/5-ways-to-tell-if-you-have-spring-fever.aspx

3 https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/sleep-obesity1.htm

4, 5, 6, 7 https://www.gohealthuc.com/library/springtime-tips-better-sleep-through-night

Keep Alert as We Transition to Daylight Saving Time

Published on by Nikken

Daylight Saving Time (DST) starts on March 10 in most of the United States, parts of Canada and some areas of Mexico. In the European countries that adopt DST, many will make the transition on March 31 this year. Many countries around the world have chosen not to have DST in 2019. When DST is not observed, it is called standard time, normal time or winter time.

Although changing to DST only involves an hour’s difference (losing an hour in the spring and gaining one in the fall), there can be a wide range of responses. Some of us don’t feel a difference at all, while others may experience a few days of fatigue from a change in sleep patterns due to having to reset our 24-hour natural cycle known as “circadian rhythm.”1 Internally generated, our circadian rhythm may be influenced by the environment, behavior and medications.2

In general, losing an hour in the spring is more difficult to adjust to than gaining an hour in the fall.3 It is similar to airplane travel; traveling east we lose time and may experience difficulty falling asleep at the “earlier” time. Going west, we may fall asleep easily at the “later” hour but have a difficult time waking.

If you have the foresight to plan ahead for losing that hour of sleep, you can go to bed 15 to 20 minutes earlier than usual for a few nights leading up to the time change. This may help your brain and body make the transition more smoothly.4 You can also expose yourself to sunlight as early in the morning as you can. This tells your internal clock that it’s time to get moving. If sunlight is unavailable where you live, use bright lights to simulate natural light to enhance mental and physical alertness.5

For some people, it can take as long as a week for their circadian and sleep rhythms to adjust to the time change. Regular exercise at the same time daily may help you get back on track, as well as going to bed and rising on a schedule. 6

In more extreme cases, the time change is linked to changes in health, diet and even the tendency to get into an accident. Sleep expert Chris Winter, M.D. explains, “Our bodies function on an internal schedule, from hormone release to body temperature to cognition—sleep is linked to them all. Your body receives signals from hormones, like ghrelin and leptin.”7 Dr. Winter further explains that these two hormones are related to cravings for food and feelings of being full, but are also “intimately associated with sleep, which is part of why when we’re not sleeping well, we tend to overeat.”8

Research published in 2009 showed the Monday after switching to DST saw a 5.7% jump in workplace injuries and nearly 68% more workdays lost to injuries, meaning they were more severe. 9 These conclusions were reached by analyzing U.S. Department of Labor and Mine Safety and Health Administration injury data from 1983 to 2006.

To prepare for an easy transition into DST, sleep a little earlier on the days before and wake a little earlier as well. Expose yourself to natural light (or simulated natural light) as early as possible upon waking. Eat a healthy breakfast to notify your body the day has begun.

To help block out light for better sleep, wear the Kenko PowerSleep Mask with patented DynaFlux® magnetic technology. Place the KenkoGround on top of your Kenko Naturest® Mattress Topper and sleep with some part of your skin touching it to help you stay grounded and connected to Nature even while in bed! You can practice Active Wellness 24/7!

 

1,2,3 https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/coping-with-time-changes

4, 5 https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/reason-daylight-savings-time-can-give-you-jet-lag

6 https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/daylight-saving-time-fall-back-doesnt-equal-sleep-gain-201311016836

7, 8, 9 https://www.nbcnews.com/know-your-value/feature/daylight-saving-time-4-surprising-health-effects-falling-back-ncna929546