Can Regular Sleep Patterns Improve Your Digestion?
As adults, saying that we don’t get enough sleep can often be a common statement said. We are such busy creatures that when it comes to taking time for ourselves and sleeping — we often neglect it. But what many people don’t know is that the quality of the sleep we get, as well as the amount of sleep we get, can affect our digestion.
Getting inadequate sleep, or disrupted sleep, can greatly affect our digestion in multiple ways. From our hormones up to our metabolism, it can have some lasting effects that can not only affect our digestion, but our health as a whole.
This article will discuss the effect that sleep has on our digestion, and how regularly sleeping can help it!
The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Digestion
When we don’t get enough sleep, our body is lacking in certain hormones, minerals, and other healthy items that it needs to do its daily processes. This is why it is important for us to get a good, steady amount of sleep each night.
Our digestion is particularly affected. Without enough sleep, our digestion can become sluggish and not work properly over time, leading to digestive issues like indigestion, heartburn, constipation, and erratic eating patterns.
How Regular Sleeping Patterns Can Help the Digestion System
When sleeping, our body gets the chance to rest, recuperate, and replenish the energy it needs in order to work correctly. It also produces hormones and other items that help to aide in digestion.
Regular sleeping patterns, specifically, can help to ensure that our body has a steadied sleep schedule, that it gets the amount of sleep it needs to recharge and replenish. This can lead to greatly improved digestion.
When our body is well rested, it has the energy it needs to digest food better and in a more timely manner. It also helps to ensure that our hormones are better regulated and our diet is managed properly. Having a healthy sleep pattern can help us to avoid or even reverse harmful digestive ailments.
Adopting Better Sleep Habits
- Set a regular sleep schedule that works best for you and stick to it
- Cut back on activities such as drinking alcohol, smoking, and engaging in in intense physical activities close to bedtime
- Avoid caffeine or any other stimulants in the late afternoon
- Keep electronics out of the bedroom, and stop using them an hour before bedtime
- Make sure there is a comfortable atmosphere to sleep in
Conclusion
Getting regular, quality sleep should be a priority in our lives, especially since it has such an effect on our digestion. Consistently getting enough sleep can help us to improve our digestion, as well as our overall health. Adopting a set sleep schedule with regular habits and an environment conducive to a good night’s sleep can help improve digestion drastically.