Sleep Affects Your Gut

With increasing research suggesting the gut microbiome exerts considerable influence over our health, and research also connecting the dots between sleep wellness and health, it’s no surprise that the two may also be related. That’s according to a new study that links irregular sleep patterns to higher levels of harmful GI bacteria.

In coming to their conclusion, researchers compared blood, stool and gut microbiome samples among two groups of adults: those with a routine (regular) sleep schedule vs. those with irregular sleep habits – the latter of which the research team termed “social jet lag” – sleep pattern changes between workdays and off days.

Published in the European Journal of Nutrition, findings revealed that a mere 90-minute difference in sleep midpoint (the halfway point between sleep vs. wake-up time) was associated with differences in the composition of the gut microbiome; specifically, more abundant “unhealthy” gut bacteria.

The takeaway: Your gut health and your sleep patterns are related! As such, it’s important to prioritize both, starting with establishing a regular sleep pattern whenever possible. Talk to your doctor for more information, particularly if you can’t seem to get a good night’s sleep on a consistent basis.