It’s no secret that you feel better when you get a good night’s sleep, but what many may not realize is that sleep quality can have a wide ranging impact on many areas of health. Not only can a lack of sleep leave you feeling groggy or out of it the next day, but over time lack of sleep could result in serious health issues like depression, heart disease and diabetes. Even though it may not always be easy to get 8 hours every night, there can be a lot of benefits to taking your sleep seriously. If you’re looking for more reasons to hit the hay early tonight, and ways to sleep better when you do, here are some things to think about.
What You Eat Affects Sleep and Vice Versa
Your diet and your ability to sleep well at night are heavily connected. This is in part because your diet affects your brain activity, which is directly related to your ability to nod off at night. The more healthy and nutritious foods you eat, like salads and protein powder, the better able your brain will be able to function and produce the necessary hormones for good sleep. Without enough healthy foods, your brain will often be stuck overcompensating, and may end up producing hormones that actually make it difficult to sleep instead. Sometimes, even if you think you are eating a healthy and sleep-supporting diet, the reality is that you could still be sabotaging your sleep without even realizing it.
What To Avoid and What To Eat for a Great Night’s Sleep
When it comes to eating the right kind of diet to support a good night’s sleep, there can be a lot of foods you’re better off avoiding. Some of the biggest culprits behind sleep disruption are caffeine and alcohol. Caffeine is disruptive because it stimulates your nervous system. While this can be great early in the day when you need to wake up and get going, it can obliterate your ability to rest deeply at night. Caffeine will generally work its way out of your system within several hours, so a morning cup of joe might not be a big deal, but drinking caffeine later in the day, whether it’s in a coffee or a can of soda, may not be wise if you’re trying to improve your sleep.
Although many think that a glass of wine is a great way to relax at the end of the day, the truth is that if you drink too much, it could end up keeping you awake all night. This is due to the fact that alcohol disrupts sleep cycles, and the brain’s production of hormones that help you sleep. So, while a drink or two might not totally prevent you from falling asleep, you’re most likely better off skipping a nightcap if you really want to rest deeply.
Beyond caffeine and alcohol, greasy and fried foods, especially late at night, can keep you awake, as can foods with too much sugar. Greasy foods are detrimental to sleep because they cause your digestive system to work harder to
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“Alaska Sleep Clinic has a history of providing the most comprehensive sleep medicine services in the state of Alaska. Its potential has only begun. I am here to take these high-quality, comprehensive services to all Alaskans.”
Experience
Brent Fisher has held leadership positions spanning a wide variety of complex and start-up organizations: manufacturing (pharmaceutical & medical device), software development, hospitals (academic and community), medical groups, consulting, hospice, military, engineered devices, engineered plastics, and private equity.
Publications and Organizations
His writings have been published in various magazines, trade journals, and medical journals, including the Physician Executive Journal, Healthcare Executive, Modern Healthcare, Group Practice Journal, New England Journal of Medicine, and Journal of Healthcare Management (Best Article Award).
He has served on the Board of Directors of professional associations, civic organizations, and businesses.
Hobbies and Activities
Brent enjoys being with his family, serving in the community, hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting.