Waking up to Sleep Problems

Natures Benefit, Inc. Little Falls, NJ, March 27, 2006 : The media has ignited public interest in the huge economic and medical problems associated with the nation's sleeplessness. While sleep deprivation is known to cause much mental and physical disability, it is now apparent that the use of hypnotic drugs has many disadvantages and limitations. In 2005, physicians issued 26.6 million prescriptions for the drug Ambien® (Sanofi-Aventis). This blockbuster drug is now the focus of scrutiny given its association with dependence, memory loss, impaired driving, aberrant behavior and nocturnal eating disorders. Short-acting hypnotic drugs such as Ambien® and Lunesta® carry the promise of greater safety, but significant problems exist with the use of antihistamine drugs that are sold over the counter (OTC) as sleep aids. Side-effects from OTC hypnotic drugs require voluntary reporting and the medical disabilities that they cause may be grossly underestimated. Long term use of sleeping drugs is a real problem.

Natures Benefit, Inc. has educated many people on natural ways to promote healthy sleep including: adjustments of lifestyle, detailed consideration of sleep hygiene and dietary adjustments. In the industry, best-selling book, "Sleep Naturally" (Wellness Publishing.com), Stephen Holt, MD cautions people about the premature use of drugs to induce sleep without consideration of simpler and gentle natural options. Dr. Holt stated, " As many as one hundred million American citizens do not sleep well and there may be forty million people with recurrent insomnia . Sleep deprivation is fueling the nation's problem with obesity and it contributes to eating disorders in both children and adults. Modern research confirms the suggestion that sleep deprivation promotes insulin resistance which in turn, promotes the Metabolic Syndrome X. This syndrome affects up to seventy million Americans with its cardinal components of the variable combination of being overweight with high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol, all linked by resistance to the hormone insulin. Combat against Syndrome X is the most important health initiative for Western society."

Holt continued, " The nation's sleeping problem is not current news. There has been an overall reduction in the amount of time that people sleep by a factor of one hour or two over the past two decades. Every community hospital has developed a sleep center to deal with the modern epidemic of sleeplessness. The premature use of sleeping tablets without considering natural approaches to promote sleep is a major public health concern that is being minimized by the proponents of drug treatments."

Natures Benefit is the supplier of a dietary supplement that provides nutritional support for the normal body function of sleep. Richard Porter, Vice-President of Sales at Natures Benefit, Inc. commented, " Sleep Naturally® is a dietary supplement containing many herbal and nutritional components that affect the overall cascade of body events that promote restful sleep. Several herbs have a long precedent of safety. It is the position of Natures Benefit, Inc. that all substances, including dietary supplements, be used as a back-up plan, rather than a first line option for healthy sleep. Our customers have commented on the highly effective composition of Sleep Naturally® which has not been associated with any reported side effects in millions of unit dosages." For interviews and further information, go to www.naturesbenefit.com or contact Richard Porter at (973) 890-2378 or via e-mail, richard@naturesbenefit.com.