MORE THAN 40 MILLION AMERICANS are chronically sleep- deprived, resulting in the nation's $2 billion-a-year sleeping pill industry, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

However, sleep medications are often ineffective and can cause serious side effects. New research has linked prescription and over-the-counter sleeping aids to Alzheimer's disease and significantly boost the odds of developing dementia. Additionally, new research published in the British Medical Journal noted an increased risk of cancer and death in people who regularly take sleeping pills. 

Here are some healthy alternatives you may want to consider if you, too, have trouble sleeping:

Chamomile flower powder - either taken as a supplement or brewed into tea - has helped people sleep better for literally thousands of years, and recent scientific research has confirmed it has a calming effect that helps prepare the body and mind for slumber.

Valerian Root
The powdered extract from this medicinal plant is a powerful sedative and anxiety reducer that has been used by traditional healers since the Roman era. An analysis of more than a dozen studies found this natural remedy helps people fall asleep faster and more deeply than pharmaceutical pills. 

Magnesium
Even small deficiencies of this essential mineral can prevent the brain from calming down at night, research shows. Many Americans don't get enough magnesium. It’s found in green leafy vegetables, wheat germ, pumpkin seeds, almonds, and is available In supplements.