Improve Your Sleep with Holistic Health Coach Vanessa Fitzgerald

You are a holistic health coach and believe that proper nutrition can affect the way our bodies function and heal. What role do you feel holistic health plays in sleep?

Sleep is one of the most important tools to achieving optimal health. You’ll often hear people claim that they don’t need that much sleep, but 99% of the time they are lying to themselves. When you don’t consistently get enough sleep you are inviting in biological damage over time as your body doesn’t have adequate time for cell regeneration. This leads to chronic inflammation, neurological degeneration, hormone disruption, and so much more. 

Do you have a daily yoga or meditation routine for morning and night?

I journal and do a bit of breathwork in the mornings. 

You have been trained in live blood education and homeopathic medicine. Can you explain what those practices are for those of us who may not know?

Live blood analysis is where we prick someone’s finger and put that blood sample immediately under a microscope to view the health of their red and white blood cells. While fun to watch, I haven’t found it as effective as Nutrition Response Testing. Nutrition Response Testing is a non-invasive system of analyzing the body in order to determine the underlying causes of ill health. The analysis is done through testing the body’s autonomic nervous system. Nutrition Response Testing analyzes different areas on the surface of the body that relate to the state of health and to the flow of energy in each and every organ and function of the body. We then use whole food supplements to help bring the body back into balance. In most cases it is concentrated whole food, in a tablet, capsule or powder, prepared using a unique manufacturing process that preserves all of the active enzymes and vital components that make it work as Nature intended. These real food supplements have been designed to match the needs of the body, as determined by the positive response shown when tested against the active Nutrition Response Testing organs/areas that were found on your individual Nutrition Response Testing analysis.

You mention that holistic wellness is not “one size fits all” and needs to be specifically tailored to an individual based on their struggles and goals. For those of us who would like to improve our sleep, do you have any lifestyle changes that you recommend?

I recommend sleeping in a room with no light; sometimes an eye mask is needed. The body recovers best in a temperature of around 68-69 degrees while sleeping. I also insist that all devices go on airplane mode and/or you can power down the wifi in your house while sleeping. It’s best to turn your phone on airplane mode at least an hour and a half before your ideal bedtime, so that you aren’t stimulating your brain. 

RAPID FIRE ROUND: 

Do you have a bedtime ritual?

Other than turning off all devices, I don’t have consistent practice.

What do you wear to bed?

Eberjey pajamas.

What is on your bedside table?

A glass of water, my blue light blockers, lip balm, hand cream, my journal and my phone plugged in on airplane mode.

Are you reading or watching anything good at the moment?

I started watching the show Hack the other day. I’m enjoying it. I’m reading a book about Human Design.

Which scent makes you think of bedtime?

Lavender or chamomile.

What are some nighttime items you cannot live without?

Air conditioning and white noise.