Sweet Dreams: How Sugar Impacts Our Quality of Sleep
To put it bluntly… sugar is not good for sleep and in fact contributes to poor sleep. That means you might be waking up frequently during the night and feeling groggy in the morning. In fact, a 2016 study found that people who have diets high in sugar tend to sleep less deeply and display greater restlessness at night.
Beyond affecting our sleep, having too much sugar at night can also be detrimental to our overall health. Dietitian Alex Evans states, “When you eat sugar, your blood sugar levels rise and your pancreas releases insulin, which helps the sugar to be taken back into the cells, giving them fuel to run on.” Because of this, blood sugar levels are zigzagging out of control, so not only will your sleep be disrupted, but your body will produce an even greater craving for sugar the next day.
And if you don’t sleep well the night before, your mood is impacted and your energy stores are low. So what is your body going to do? Send signals to your brain to get energy. Your brain will then tell your body to reach for something that will do the job quickly. Say, something filled with sugar. Your blood sugar will then spike giving you a lot of energy, however it will crash quickly after, creating this vicious cycle.
So how do we reduce our sugar intake if we’re caught in this sugar intake cycle? Well, good news! The cycle can be broken with fibrous foods or food high in fiber. This means whole grains, potatoes, legumes and fruits and vegetables - all things that release sugar over much longer periods of time, reducing blood sugar spikes and the cravings that come with. AKA reach for a healthy, whole-food snack vs anything processed or high in sugar. Easier said than done, we know.
Beyond a change in your diet, our Daily Kick is designed to help you tackle your sugar cravings and improve your overall health. First, you’ll start the day with our Body Balance Powder, a vegan superblend of prebiotic fibers, vitamins and minerals that help keep you fuller longer. Luckily, adding it into your routine has never been easier. You can put it into caffeine free tea, hot water with lemon, coffee or a simple glass of water before bedtime.
Beyond that, whenever a sugar craving hits, pop one of our sugar control mints. These 100% plant-based tablets remove the taste of sweetness in the sugary snacks and drinks you crave to help you manage cravings more effectively and last up to one hour to ensure your craving passes.
Last but not least, make sure you’re not eating or drinking anything with excess sugar upwards of two hours before you go to sleep. Just stick to water before bed and try turning off any devices up to an hour before you shut your eyes for that extra help towards complete restfulness. Sweet dreams!
Sources:
https://thesleepdoctor.com/2019/01/29/4-ways-sugar-wrecks-your-sleep/
