Insomnia

Sleep issues seem to be on the rise and can be due to a myriad of things, such as stress, elevated cortisol, anxiety, decreased serotonin and therefore decreased melatonin production, which is the sleep hormone.

In addition, nutrient deficiencies such as vitamin D, magnesium, zinc or B vitamins, excess sugar and high glycaemic carbohydrate intake, dietary stimulants such as alcohol and caffeine and the use of electronic devices can all worsen sleep.

Diet and the gut microbiota also plays an important part in restorative sleep, and lacking tryptophan, fruits, whole grains and vegetables can all contribute to insomnia.

Sleep deprivation can cause weight gain by disrupting satiety and hunger hormones leptin and ghrelin, along with insulin and elevated cortisol. This triggers hunger, especially for high fat, high energy foods. Insomnia can also increase risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes mellitus and depression. Hormonal fluctuations such as oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone have all been associated with sleep disturbances and night sweats ².

 Luckily there is an abundance of things one can implement dietary, lifestyle and supplement wise, to help support normal sleep patterns ¹.

If you would like to find out more about how you can identify the root cause to your insomnia and learn how to support your condition, book a free discovery call or an in depth initial consultation.