Sugar is one of the few foods that the medical community believes can be harmful to humans, especially when consumed in excess. Eating too much sugar can have detrimental effects. From weight gain and related health problems, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer risk to aging skin, acne, depression and lack of energy. What are the benefits of giving up sugar? Is it possible to avoid these health problems?
ContentWhat are the benefits of cutting out sugar for sleep? How a diet high in sugar can disrupt sleep Excessive sugar consumption can cause diseases that also affect sleep
Definitely yes. You'll be able to better control your weight, your energy levels will increase, and you'll feel better about your mental health. Your skin will thank you and you will reduce your risk of developing a number of diseases. Here's what else WomanEL found out about the benefits of giving up sugar.
What are the benefits of giving up sugar for sleep
Did you know that avoiding excess sugar can affect the quality of your sleep? You will get quality sleep if you control your sugar intake. According to a 2016 study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, diets high in sugar may reduce the amount of slow-wave sleep. Slow wave sleep, also known as deep sleep, is restorative in nature. It affects growth, memory, and immune function.
According to a 2022 study published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, women who consumed a lot of sugary treats reported poor sleep quality overall. But why does this happen?
How a high-sugar diet can disrupt your sleep
First, eating a diet high in sugar can lead to a vicious cycle that leads to poor sleep quality. Spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels caused by excessive sugar consumption throw your system out of whack and leave you sluggish and hungry. According to clinical psychologist specializing in sleep disorders, Dr. Michael Breus, this is where the domino effect begins. You may also feel hungry at night and crave more sugary treats to curb that hunger. This can cause further spikes in your blood sugar and disrupt your sleep.
Your body interprets sugar as energy and prepares you to be active, when in fact you should be preparing to relax. According to a clinical psychologist, poor sleep caused by this overstimulation can further reinforce uncontrollable hunger signals and lead to increased sugar cravings.
In addition, blood sugar levels rise, and the resulting disruptions can also lead to thirst and the need to use the toilet at night. It can also lead to sleep disturbances. Sugar also consumes a lot of magnesium (magnesium helps regulate blood sugar), which is essential for sleep. Magnesium regulates gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter responsible for calming the nervous system. It also promotes muscle relaxation and melatonin production, while reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol. All these features help you fall asleep.
Excessive sugar consumption can cause diseases that also affect sleep
As we mentioned earlier, consuming too much sugar can lead to weight gain and a number of health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, inflammation, and fatty liver disease. Some of these diseases negatively affect sleep.
Weight gain is a risk factor for sleep-related conditions such as sleep apnea. When your breathing constantly stops and recovers, you become out of breath during sleep, and you experience insomnia due to this sleep disorder, you may experience daytime sleepiness, irritability, and fatigue.
Heart health can also affect your sleep. . For example, shortness of breath is a symptom of congestive heart failure, a condition that can be caused by poor diet, diabetes, and weight gain. This will make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. People with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of developing sleep disorders. Insomnia is also an all-too-common reality in people with hypertension.
As we can see, cutting out sugar is actually beneficial. So maybe it's worth a try? At the very least, you can start reducing it…
To keep your health strong, eat the following superfoods. They are not only nutritious, but also delicious!