Sleeping isn’t always as straightforward as it sounds. In fact, it can be really challenging to find a sustainable sleep schedule. We all have our own remedies to help us fall asleep, some with greater or lesser success. Physical activity, mindfulness, meditation, a glass of wine, even a few games on your phone… However, one of the most common go-to sleep remedies and perhaps the simplest, is drinking a cup of warm milk. And this is where Sleep Well drink comes in, a natural milk drink designed to help you relax and sleep and get you those seven to eight hours of much-needed rest each night.
Milk contains tryptophan and by ingesting tryptophan, your body will speed up the production of melatonin from the pineal gland which is responsible for a person’s sleep-wake cycle. The body naturally produces more melatonin at night-time as our bodies ready themselves for sleep, but some people don’t produce enough which leads to them feeling wide awake when they should be winding down.
Your body’s natural circadian rhythm can also be thrown out of synch; night shifts, jet lag or a new baby for example can push your melatonin production into overdrive – or stop it altogether. But by drinking a warm cup of milk you can encourage your body to produce the sleeping hormone making you drowsy. Milk also contains calcium and maintaining calcium levels can help a person stay asleep.
Sleep Well is made with simple, nutritious and natural ingredients associated with a good night’s sleep; pure wholesome Jersey milk produced by a herd of cows near the founders Sam and Allan’s home, honey and valerian.
So why Jersey milk? Not only is it delicious and has 20% more calcium and protein than other milks, with a higher concentration of vitamins and minerals but studies also show that the fattier the milk, the more sleep-inducing hormone. So, although it might not help you lose weight, you are more likely to get to sleep faster with creamy Jersey milk than by picking up the lower fat alternatives. Honey is the perfect natural combination of fructose and glucose that does not lead to insulin spikes in the blood but is believed when taken before bedtime, to improve and lengthen restorative sleep. It’s also full of antioxidants.
Sleep Well’s magic ingredient is Valerian – the natural herb that’s been helping people relax and sleep for over 2000 years. It is thought to work by gently increasing your brain’s levels of a natural substance called gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), which soothes anxiety helping you to relax and thereby achieve a better night’s sleep. The organic valerian herb used in Sleep Well is of the highest quality and harvested in my beautiful home county of Rutland.
So, there you have it, this is a milk drink that not only tastes delicious but does you a lot of good too. Sleep Well comes in handy 200 ml ‘sip and sleep’ cartons (perfect if you’re travelling and finding it difficult to drop off to sleep) and family-size 1 litre packs. It’s perfect for everyone, from families to students, frequent flyers and shift workers and stressed-out executives. Enjoy hot or cold, thirty minutes before you want to go to sleep.
I tried the vanilla flavoured version as a warm drink, it also comes in a chocolate flavoured version, and it certainly helped me to start winding down and switching off after a long day. I also felt I achieved a much deeper nights’ sleep.
And even if the science doesn’t work for you, the psychology might. Whether the milk releases enough melatonin to help you fall to sleep or not, just remembering being lovingly tucked up in bed as a child with a mug of warm milk might calm your mind enough to help you get to sleep and stay soundly asleep throughout the night!
Sleep Well is available at a number of independent retailers across the country, as well as Booths and selected Sainsbury’s stores. Check out their ‘where to buy’ map for your nearest store.
