LGR Holistic Wellness

Time and time again, we’ve been endlessly told about the importance of sleep. Without sleep, our body cannot survive, so it makes sense that a lack of sleep depletes our body’s chances of keeping us in optimal health.

Our health is not always our first priority, that is until something goes wrong and we get a little reminder or warning that we should be doing something better. This is usually because our bodies are so resilient, especially when we are young. However, it can put a strain on it if we sustain unhealthy lifestyle choices over time, especially if that involves long-term sleep deprivation.

Sleep deprivation is strongly linked to inflammation. Chronic inflammation has the potential to damage crucial parts of the body such as the arteries, joints, and other organs. Over time, a persistent lack of sleep may lead to the development of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. On top of that, not getting enough sleep can ultimately disrupt our digestive system and gut health.

The Role of Sleep in Gut Health

Numerous metabolic processes happen during sleep, including digestion. The entire digestive system relies on sleep to be able to rest and recover from metabolizing glucose to supply the body with energy. If you get enough rest and sleep, this process is uninterrupted. You will also wake up feeling energized and your digestion remains efficient.

However, continually losing sleep can slow down your metabolism, and weight gain can happen as a result.

Here are the various ways that sleep debt can affect the digestive system.

Lack of Sleep Can Disrupt Your Hormones

When the body doesn’t get enough sleep, certain hormones that play a role in our appetite can be disrupted. The hormone ghrelin, which directs us to feel hunger, and leptin which makes us feel full, don’t work smoothly.

The body experiences increased hunger and appetite, leading to eating more and gaining more weight. It is not uncommon to gain more weight following a lifestyle of chronic sleep deprivation.

Lack of Sleep Increases Inflammation In The Gut Lining

Not getting enough sleep has been linked to increased pro-inflammatory molecules in the gut that further lead to gut lining inflammation. This causes problems such as gastrointestinal symptoms like bloating, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. It can also slow down the process of moving food from the stomach to the small intestine known as gastric emptying.

Lack of Sleep Can Cause Gut-Related Issues

When we don’t get enough sleep, this causes the stress hormone cortisol to rise. High levels of cortisol in our system can lead to a leaky gut or intestinal permeability. A leaky gut occurs when the intestinal lining is impaired, allowing food and toxins in the body to seep into the bloodstream.

As a result of a leaky gut, issues like bloating, stomach aches, food sensitivities, inflammation, and undesirable changes in the state of the gut microbiome can occur.

How Melatonin Helps

Much of what is known about melatonin is that it is the main hormone responsible for our sleep and it is responsible for the sleep-wake cycle.

Chronic sleep deprivation or insomnia is strongly correlated with how melatonin works in our bodies. Melatonin not only affects our sleep. It also plays a role in keeping a healthy, well-balanced gut and inflammatory response in the body.

Secreted in the body’s pineal gland, melatonin is the hormone that regulates our circadian rhythm, which is a natural process. Our body’s natural response to light and dark, and why we are wired to sleep at night is mainly due to melatonin.

Beyond that, melatonin is also found in the gut, where it supports a healthy immune function. Constant sleep deprivation, which is linked to reduced melatonin levels, can affect the state of our gut.

Supplementing with melatonin can help in supporting gut health. It is an important hormone that regulates gastrointestinal functions, on top of ensuring a healthy inflammatory response and antioxidant status.

People troubled by sleeping disturbances have lower melatonin levels. Supplementing with melatonin can help reduce the negative impacts of a lack of sleep on gastrointestinal functions and the digestive system overall.