I’ll sleep when I’m dead. That used to be my mantra. It felt concordant with a common mindset—one in which we see burning the candle at both ends as a sign of determination and unwavering focus. We celebrate folks who work around the clock to get things done, and we overlook the fact that perhaps they have neglected their families, health, and mental well-being to do so. But I went from being that person, the one who would tattoo her workout posts with the hashtag #NoDaysOff (completely ...

Your body is your home. It’s also home to trillions of other living organisms. Trillions of microbes that is. And the composition of this microscopic community can have major implications on your wellness and performance. Fortunately, there are multiple steps you can take to support gut health and reap related benefits. Numerous habits, from meal timing, to sleep habits, to antioxidant consumption, can influence the makeup of your microbiome and its relationship with the rest of your body.

Athletes are always looking for ways to improve performance and take goals to the next level. Efforts for doing just that are often limited to waking hours: nutrition, hydration, recovery protocols, supplement routine and, of course, training itself. And despite all this, research shows that, on average, athletes neglect a critical performance tool: sleep. So how does inadequate sleep affect athletic performance? Interestingly, the oversight of sleep can impact performance, both directly and ...

InsideTracker’s mission has always been to provide you with actionable, evidence-backed recommendations to improve your health and wellness. And now, we've made strides to integrate yet another biometric data source to realize this vision. With the latest version of the InsideTracker Mobile App, users can now get real-time, daily feedback on insights from heart rate and sleep data collected by wearable fitness trackers. Here's how this development is building on the InsideTracker experience and ...

Melatonin is naturally produced in the brain as a part of our sleep/wake cycle. And in recent years, researchers have realized that melatonin in supplement form has similar effects. But are melatonin supplements safe? What is the most effective and safe form to take? In general, melatonin is quite safe, though experts recommend being conservative with the dosage and the number of nights in a row that you use it. Here's a breakdown of common questions about melatonin supplements.

Our current reality is undoubtedly anxiety-inducing. And understandably, demand for household products such as toilet-paper and hand sanitizer has spiked in response. But perhaps more surprising is the surge in e-commerce sales of self-care products containing CBD oil. CBD is perhaps best known for its beneficial effects on anxiety and sleep, and up until recently, this was merely hearsay.[1] The past five years have been pivotal for the legalization of CBD and its use in clinical trials. But ...

  Afraid that your naps or sleeping in on the weekend may not be good for you? Well, not only can they help you make up for lost sleep, but research suggests that they may also be beneficial for cognitive function, memory, and (perhaps counterintuitively) help you fall asleep at night. The next time someone comments on your napping habit or forces you up early on a Saturday morning, you’ll be able to back up your extra shut eye with science!

  Sleep is the most active “inactive” part of your life.  Although your muscles are relaxed and still (sleep walkers excluded!), the rest of your body is working hard to rebuild your foundation for the next day. And doing so correctly requires a certain architecture. Sleep architecture refers to the three primary phases of sleep essential for this process; here's how they come together to build you a strong tomorrow.