Even one unhealthy diet can spoil sleep
Most of us are aware of the importance of diet and how it can increase the risk of obesity, heart diseases, etc. A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine now claims that what we eat has an influence on sleep quality.
The study suggests that foods low in fiber but high in saturated fat content may lead to reduced duration of slow-wave sleep. The physical and mental energy is restored in the slow-wave sleep.
Research at the Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) in New York, led by Dr. Marie-Pierre St-Onge, PhD, also found that foods high in sugar was linked to more sleep disruptions.
The team says their findings are important, given the negative health implications associated with poor sleep quality.
A study has also linked disrupted sleep to an increased risk of stroke in elderly, while another study associated poor sleep with increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
The researchers were found that after just a single day on a self-selected diet, the participants took longer to fall asleep than when they were on the controlled diet. It took 29 minutes to fall asleep when they chose their own foods, compared with 17 minutes when they consumed fixed meals.
According to researchers, the participants who selected their own foods had less slow-wave sleep due to higher intake of saturated fat. When the diet was controlled and had high fiber as well, the sleep quality was good as it had more slow-wave.
The researchers also found that higher intake of sugar with a self-selected diet was associated with more sleep disruptions.
Based on these findings, Dr. St-Onge suggests that the 50-70 million people in the US who experience sleep problems may benefit from a healthier diet, noting however that further research is required.
Dr. Nathaniel Watson, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine – who was not involved in the study says, ‘This study emphasizes the fact that diet and sleep are interwoven in the fabric of a healthy lifestyle. For optimal health, it is important to make lifestyle choices that promote healthy sleep, such as eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly.’
