Choppy, interrupted sleep can wreck havoc on inflammation by
- decreasing leptin hormone levels so you just can’t get full the next day.
- Increasing ghrelin hormone levels, which makes you hungrier all day long.
- Keeping you tired = poor food choices the next day (in my world it’s called ‘mouth hunger’).
- Limit caffeine and chocolate in the later afternoon/evening hours. We know caffeine acts as a stimulant but so can components in chocolate that aren’t caffeine.
- Cut the carbohydrate intake! Carbohydrates should mostly be eaten before evening. Calorie for calorie, we metabolize a higher carbohydrate meal better during the day than we do in the evening.
- Move! Rhythmic, repetitive movements increase serotonin to the brain which helps us sleep better.
Breaking the seemingly never-ending cycle of bad sleep habits can feel daunting, but these simple steps will help you achieve improved sleep practices. Most importantly, catch those zzz’s!
In good health,
