Have you had a sleep apnea test? That is also something to be considered.
Adrenal and Thyroid disorders disrupt sleep. BELIEVE ME, I KNOW!!!!
Ongoing stress is also something else to be considered. I've read that journaling your thoughts before bedtime can help with this.
I feel your pain. Continued lack of sleep is not for the faint at heart, that's for sure.
The food additive MSG is an excitotoxin because it contains glutamate. Many processed foods contain MSG and/or other excitotoxins, and eating them especially around bedtime can excite the brain with such intensity that it becomes impossible to sleep. it’s probably the MSG working. Some studies indicate that mental fatigue following a bad night of sleep is caused by cytokinetriggered excitotoxicity. People suffering from reactive hypoglycemia are at great risk of MSGinduced excitotoxicity. Aspartame also contains the excitotoxin aspartate, and soy products are high in glutamate especially hydrolyzed soy protein. If you have a sleep disorder, you should avoid all foods containing excitotoxins
It is important to remember that there are many different reasons people develop chronic insomnia and there are often very specific problems that must be addressed before an insomniac can enjoy a solid night of sleep. Those suffering from narcolepsy will find that a
product called gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) works very well. This substance has now been labeled a prescription drug, even though it is a natural product.
Always try to go to bed at least by midnight. Staying up late resets the biological clock and can disrupt sleep patterns. Keep the room slightly cool. Make sure the room is dark.
Avoid nightlights, brightly lit phone dials and clocks. Try playing soothing music on a low volume at bedtime. Avoid reading or watching television at least one hour before bedtime. Allow yourself time to wind down. Some people will become hypoglycemic during the night, and this will wake them up. Avoid sugar and sweet foods in the evening. Try eating a piece of turkey by itself (no bread) before bedtime. Turkey is high in L-tryptophan, an amino acid that the brain uses to generate the sleep neurotransmitter serotonin. Avoid caffeine, smoking and all foods containing excitotoxins. Avoid sleeping late and naps during the day. Exercise earlier in the day. Exercise lowers inflammatory cytokines. Exercising late in the day revs up the metabolism and this can keep you awake. Do not exercise after 7PM. Before retiring for the night, take the
following: One gram of buffered vitamin C (magnesium or calcium ascorbate). This helps induce sleep. Magnesium citrate (120 mg.) at bedtime. It is a natural relaxant and calmative. Melatonin. Start at 1 mg. 30 minutes before bedtime. Increase as necessary. It will induce dreaming. Other natural sleep aids:
Calmative teas Chamomile, valerian root, passionflower and catnip all calm and sooth the nerves. Traditional Medicinals makes a tea called Nighty Night containing a mixture of these herbs. And Celestial Seasonings makes a tea called Sleepytime. For those who have to get up in the night to urinate, I suggest avoiding the teas.
Flavonoids
Many of the flavonoids are anxiolytic, meaning they calm anxiety. The most useful are hesperidin and quercetin. Take 250 to 500 mg. of hesperidin and 250 mg. of quercetin one hour before bedtime. They also reduce inflammation. Omega-3 Take your fish oils one hour before bedtime. (One teaspoon to one tablespoon.) The omega-3 fatty
acids suppress the cytokines that disturb sleep. Relora This is a product that contains a blend of Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense — has been shown to reduce stress, promote a positive mood and induce restful sleep. It also slashes excess cortisol secretion, which can cause insomniacs to wake up during the night. You should not mix Relora with prescription medications or take it if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. The dose is 250 mg. three times a day. Rhodiola Also known as Golden root or Artic root, it reduces stress and suppresses excess catecholamine excretion from the adrenal glands. Catecholamine is a hormone that can cause us to feel jittery and anxious. Take one twice a day. Glucosamine recent research has shown that it can also
reduce immune damage. Take 250 mg. three times a day. Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) This herb contains some powerful anti-inflammatory flavonoids that have been shown to protect the brain and calm anxiety. It has a long safety record and is backed up by extensive research. It comes in liquid form. The dose is 30 to 40 drops three times a day.
Stress
Reduce your intake of fats — especially saturated fats and omega-6 fats (vegetable oils,
such as corn, safflower, peanut, sunflower, soybean and canola oils). Studies have shown
that animals on high-fat diets release more cortisol and take longer to recover from stress than those on low-fat diets. Magnesium is the body’s natural calmative agent. It reduces excitotoxicity and when taken at bedtime, it aids sleep. It also reduces the immune
over-reactivity seen with anxiety disorders. In addition, it reduces your risk of heart disease, stroke and type-2 diabetes (and metabolic syndrome). White tea contains a flavonoid called epigallocatechin gallate. This flavonoid has recently been shown to calm the brain and reduce anxiety. It works by activating the organ’s most protective system against anxiety — the gammaaminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor. This aids sleep as well. White tea has a higher level of this flavonoid and much less fluoride than green tea. For those who do not want to take a pharmaceutical drug, the herb valerian has
been shown to activate the same calming brain GABA receptor. It has been used to induce sleep but also calms anxiety during the day. It should not be mixed with medications that act as sedatives or tranquilizers. Another useful product is called Relora. It is a blend of two extracts — Phellodendron amurense and Magnolia officinalis. In a number of tests, Relora has been shown to reduce excess cortisol levels associated with stress while
improving mood and reducing stress. It acts via the brain’s GABA and serotonin systems, which are both important in controlling anxiety. Avoid caffeine. People with anxiety disorders hyper react to stimulants, such as caffeine. They can also worsen insomnia.
add some supplements. Most important are: Vitamin C (as magnesium or calcium
ascorbate): The dose is 500 to 1000 mg. three times a day between meals. Vitamin E (natural form-Unique E is the purist form): 400 to 800 IU a day Multivitamin/mineral without iron: Riboflavin 500 mg. a day for those age 50 and over: This increases brain cell function
and reduces free radical formation. It also blocks excitotoxicity. Curcumin 250 mg. twice to three times a day: Curcumin is being shown to be one of the most powerful brain protectants known. A new study in the journal Experimental Neurology found that curcumin dramatically improved synaptic plasticity (brain healing), mental ability (cognition) and reduced free radicals and lipid peroxidation in animals with severe brain injury. Mix the curcumin with a half of a tablespoon of fish oil.
Quercetin (250 mg.) twice to three times a day: Also a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant for the brain. Mix with the fish oil and curcumin. Fish oil: It has been shown to specifically reduce brain inflammation and improve healing within the organ (especially the
dendrites and synapses). The dose is 2 to 4 grams a day. Keep the oil refrigerated.
Relora: As stated above, this reduces cortisol elevation caused by stress. The usual dose is 3 capsules a day with or between meals.
Regular, moderate exercise is important: Studies show that it strengthens the antioxidant
systems and releases endorphins (a morphine-like compound) from the brain, which calms the mood and reduces depression. However, excessive exercise will increase free radicals and can be harmful. Also, exercising in the late evening can cause insomnia
Don't know anything about MaxGXL, but what you're describing sounds more like a lack of either electrolytes and protein than antioxidants. Though there is lactic acid build up after aerobics, it would cause cramps, not brain fog. So either you're not sleeping well due to your anxiety or depression, or you're overworking past your nutrient levels.