There is no doubt that food affects our health including the ability to sleep.
Solutions can be found in food.
The question, of course, is what foods do we need to eat to help promote sleep.
No secret it seems that the food consumed the most is often what disrupts sleep like caffeine, sugar and alcohol. Included in this is processed or junk food – food that really contains no nutrients.
So that leaves all the rest of the food.
Sounds easy but not so fast.
As a holistic nutritionist, when I speak to clients about their diet, I am often told that they believe their diet is good. And then when we get into the specifics it becomes clear that there is so much missing in the diet or there is a problem.
What we need in a nutshell is macronutrients: protein, carbohydrates and fats. Plus micronutrients which are vitamins and minerals. And it doesn’t matter what diet or style of eating you do as long as all of these are consumed.
Now there isn’t a right way to eat- we are all biologically unique. As long as you are eating a variety of food and in sufficient amounts you are giving your body what it needs to do all the processing to keep you alive, well and in balance. And that supports getting to sleep and staying asleep.
Lack of sleep messes up a lot of hormones including ones that affect our appetite, satiety and the very hormones that help us sleep.
And not being able to sleep often means reaching for coffee to get you going or something sweet to give you a burst of energy and the day becomes overloaded with all the wrong carbs. This often leads to issues with insulin and the body’s ability to manage blood sugar or cravings or overeating.
And the cycle continues and now there are more issues to deal with in the body. Symptoms like fatigue, feeling wired and tired, headaches, bloating, gassy, belching, tummy issues, diarrhea, constipation, weight gain, cravings, mood swings and really “hangry” for example.
Food can help. It might not always be the answer but it is always part of the solution.
I know no one wants to dissect every aspect of your food. Trying to figure it out takes the joy out of eating. Who wants to eat that way?
This is why I created an e-book to help you get started on understanding what to eat for sleep. No need to figure out what to eat, it is all laid out for you with a variety of recipes to suit all dietary concerns.
Click here to learn more: Nourished Sleep: A Guide To Promote Sleep Through Food.
We all need to eat so giving your body what it needs to support sleep is the first step to getting back to a peaceful night’s sleep.
