It’s one of the most underrated ways to support your gut (and overall) health, yet 1 in 3 of us aren’t getting enough shut-eye.
In fact, studies have shown that just 2 days of getting less sleep than we need can impact our gut microbes, increase inflammation and stress hormones, which might explain why not getting enough sleep is linked with worse gut symptoms, especially for those with IBS. Feeling rested can also benefit your immunity, diet & mood.
How much sleep do we need?
7 – 9 hours sleep every night is considered the sweet spot (hands up if you’re someone who needs 9 hours like me!)
What can we do to improve our sleep quality?
In my clinic, I’ve found simple diet & lifestyle changes to boost your gut health have helped many people to sleep better, as well as the sleep hygiene protocol developed by my amazing King’s College London colleagues Dr Al Khatib, Dr Hall & team. Here are a few top tips & you can find the full protocol that the team have share on, in my book Eat Yourself Healthy & Love Your Gut!
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Make your bedroom a place to relax, tidy, quiet, with dim lighting & the temperature set at approx 18c.
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Limit caffeine (don’t forget about the caffeine in dark chocolate and green tea) after 3 pm to let your body wind down before bedtime.
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Schedule worry time during the day to write down all your thoughts or to-do lists so you have some mental space to relax.
