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How your eating habits could be affecting your sleep

Improving your health starts with a simple step: getting the right amount of sleep.

Sleep is crucial for restoring the body’s energy and maintaining immune health. While sleep specialists recommend getting at least seven or more hours of nightly sleep, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports only 1 in 3 adults consistently gets sufficient rest. Perhaps surprisingly, what you eat can directly affect how much and well you sleep.

Sunday Citizen identified how eating habits could influence sleep quality by researching scientific literature about food and nutrition and the connection to sleep patterns.

Studies have shown that inadequate sleep can be linked to cravings for sweet and salty, high-calorie foods and may put individuals at higher risk for chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and depression. Some health experts have also suggested that healthy food choices can make a difference. For example, some nutritionists note that foods such as almonds could improve sleep quality—they contain magnesium, which can decrease stress levels that may disrupt sleep.  But while sleep quality and nutrition are closely correlated, remember that there are challenges in analyzing the direct causation. Results may vary from person to person and as with anything medical-related, it’s essential to talk with a medical professional.

Chemicals like caffeine and alcohol can interrupt sleep patterns

Chemicals like caffeine and alcohol can interrupt sleep patterns
Coffee may be the ideal beverage to help you get started in the mornings, but consuming caffeine later in the day can cause insomnia. Caffeine inhibits adenosine, a sleep-promoting receptor. It takes four to six hours for the body to metabolize what’s been ingested, according to the FDA, which is why caffeine at night can keep you awake longer.

Alcohol may immediately promote relaxation, but excessive consumption before bedtime can lead to sleep disruptions and poor sleep quality. It’s been linked to snoring and worsened sleep apnea, a severe sleeping disorder that can hinder breathing.

Source:https://www.hddailynews.com/