Meet the doctor who is helping insomniacs get a decent night’s sleep

Ashleigh Cometti meets the doctor behind the wellness industry’s newest tonic said to help you drift off to the land of nod

IT’S BEEN CITED as one of the newest pillars of health, alongside movement and nutrition, but our newfound awareness of the importance of sleep doesn’t necessarily equate to us getting more of it.

Counting sheep is big business and over the past few years the number of prescription requests for melatonin (the sleep hormone) has increased tenfold, as has the rise in over-thecounter options purported to calm the body and prepare it for sleep.

Dr Ann Shivas has spent the last decade diving deeper into the world of sleep hygiene — with nary a sanitiser in sight. By definition, sleep hygiene means setting up your environment properly for sleep, Shivas explains.

Her PhD in physical medicine and background in biology, osteopathy and traditional Chinese medicine led her from Ontario, Canada, to Auckland, where her continued investigations into sleep quality saw her enter into the world of epigenetics.

So how do we create ‘good’ sleep hygiene and what does that look like? Shivas and her team from Sleep Loop created the acronym SLEEPS, which explains how sleep is environmental.

“Schedule, Light, Eat and Drink, Environment, Physiology, Stress,” Shivas says. “Our team has done extensive research showing that these are the major contributors to enhancing a good night’s sleep.”

This research spurred on a collaboration opportunity between Sleep Loop and local beverage company No Ugly. Their challenge was formulating a sleep tonic that supplemented vitamin and mineral deficiencies and boosted immunity, all while tasting delicious.

“After a few tests (night-time zzz’s and a few daytime naps) we realised we had the winning combination to help those who haven’t quite got their sleep on point and needed some assistance,” she says.

The new No Ugly Sleep Tonic 4pk, $19, contains magnesium, tart cherry, passionflower, lemon balm and vitamin D to support sleep. It contains 70mg of magnesium (40 per cent of your recommended daily intake) along with 1200mg of tart cherry — a natural source of melatonin.

Shivas recommends coupling shortterm supplementation with a longerterm approach by following the SLEEPS model — dealing with stress, food choices and other factors that can improve sleep hygiene and promote sleep ongoing.

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