Recent research has correlated the link people who suffer with mood swings and low quality sleep, whether they struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep, or sometimes both.
Why is sleeping so important?
Sleep provides a movement of detoxification in the body, this movement helps to rid the brain of neurons and cells that need to be extracted as well as supporting the brain in retaining the neurons and cells it needs.
Sleep provides the body with time to repair and triggers the mechanisms that help restore the brain and joints.
What is lack of sleep linked to?
In 2018, studies have finally showed a correlation between poor sleep and mood disorders.
Lack of sleep is also linked with ADHD (Attention – deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder), as well as higher risk of accidents when operating machinery.
It has been widely understood for some time now that driving whilst sleep deprived is considered as dangerous as drink driving as response time is diminished.
Insulin resistance, which is caused by excess body fat is a precursor to inflammation, heart disease, gut problems and cancer which leads to more weight gain due to the insulin function being threatened. Here is where the vicious cycle commences, as weight is increased, quality of sleep is diminished.
High inflammation levels in the body also compromises the availability of serotonin in the brain, which is the hormone that makes us happy.
Here is where we can begin to understand the link between lack of sleep and depression or mood problems.
Why is sleep important for our digestive tract?
During the day our digestive system breaks down the ingredients we eat and absorbs what we need from them throughout the day. However, when we are asleep our digestive track is resting, this is when our gut is able to clean the gut lining and our liver detoxifies.
How many hours should we sleep?
The general consensus is between seven to nine hours sleep. However, everyone is different and some people can survive on less.
Trying to understand where our sleep issues stem from is key. Maybe we need to reset our chronological clock or encourage the Circadian Rhythm.
What is the Circadian Rhythm?
Each and every cell in our body has a Circadian Clock which is informed by the light hitting both our skin and our retina. This information then goes through the nervous system and triggers every process in the body.
Metabolism, immunity system, inflammation state and gut are all Circadian driven.
The cells that line the GI track (mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus) are turned over every 2 – 3 days, however this process cannot happen with a disrupted Circadian Rhythm. Lack of light effects the serotonin levels, which then impacts the conversion from serotonin to melatonin (which is the hormone that helps us sleep).
We can therefore understand that sleep is essential for the healthy running of our neurons, cells and joints as well as our organs, particularly our digestive track but also for our mental health.
Spending time outdoors and allowing the light in our eyes and on our skin can help with serotonin levels in the body however, if good quality sleep is added to this, our mental health will benefit exponentially.
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