Don't eat heavy meals close to bedtime.These will relax you and also help remove toxins from your body. Use bath salts, or throw in Epsom salts and baking soda - one cup of each. Have a warm bath, listen to music or practise meditation or yoga. By following our simple guide you may be able to beat insomnia. “Based on our findings, we would need randomized clinical trials to determine if a dietary intervention, focused on increasing the consumption of whole foods and complex carbohydrates, could be used to prevent and treat insomnia,” concludes Gangwisch.Don't let those sleepless nights get you down. Going forward, they argue that this idea is worth exploring in more detailed studies. The researchers only worked with females aged 50 and over, but they believe that the findings could also apply to males and people of other ages.
“This suggests that the dietary culprit triggering the women’s insomnia was the highly processed foods that contain larger amounts of refined sugars that aren’t found naturally in food.” “Whole fruits contain sugar, but the fiber in them slow the rate of absorption to help prevent spikes in blood sugar,” says Gangwisch.
Indeed, the female participants who had diets rich in vegetables and whole fruits - but not fruit juices - did not have an increased risk of insomnia. This is because these natural foods are also high in fiber, which means that the body absorbs the sugar more slowly, preventing a spike in blood sugar levels. Fruits and vegetables - which naturally contain sugar - are unlikely to raise blood sugar levels nearly as quickly as foods containing added sugars. The study authors also explain why not all foods that contain sugar will lead to the same effect. “When blood sugar is raised quickly, your body reacts by releasing insulin, and the resulting drop in blood sugar can lead to the release of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which can interfere with sleep,” Gangwisch explains. However, they do note that there is a possible underlying mechanism that might explain added sugars causing sleep disruptions. The researchers caution that it was unclear from their analysis whether the consumption of refined carbohydrates led to insomnia, or that people who experienced insomnia were more likely to consume refined carbs, especially sugary foods. This includes foods with added sugars, soda, white rice, and white bread. Gangwisch and colleagues found a link between a higher risk of insomnia and a diet rich in refined carbohydrates. To understand whether or not there really is a link between dietary choices and the risk of insomnia, the investigators looked for any associations between different diets and sleep disruptions. The researchers worked with the data of 53,069 female participants aged 50–79, all of whom had enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study between September 1994 and December 1998. “Insomnia is often treated with cognitive behavioral therapy or medications, but these can be expensive or carry side effects,” explains senior study author James Gangwisch, Ph.D.īut, he adds, “y identifying other factors that lead to insomnia, we may find straightforward and low cost interventions with fewer potential side effects.” The research team reports these findings in a study paper that now appears in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. This, at least, appears to be the case among females aged 50 and over. Now, a study from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, NY, suggests that a diet high in refined carbohydrates - particularly added sugars - is linked to a higher risk of insomnia. Researchers have taken due note of this, as numerous studies have suggested that insomnia is not just a mild annoyance: It may actually be linked with many other negative health outcomes.Īccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), short sleep duration and sleep disruptions are associated with cardiovascular problems, diabetes, and depression, to name a few.įor this reason, specialists have been looking for ways of preventing or treating insomnia and other sleep disorders - starting by looking for all the possible causes.Įxisting research has already called attention to the fact that diet may influence a person’s sleep quality. According to the National Sleep Foundation, up to 40% of people in the United States experience some insomnia symptoms each year. Insomnia affects many people all over the world. Share on Pinterest The findings of a new study suggest that refined carbohydrates contribute to insomnia among older females.