Are you a good sleeper? If not, or if you think you are, this article is worth your time. If you are reading this and it is after 10 pm where you are, close your computer NOW and go to sleep. 😴♥️ I know about the value of sleep from experience.

Fifteen years ago, when I started going through menopause, I was diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and atrial fibrillation (also called Afib or AF), both forms of irregular heartbeat known as arrhythmias. Although not life-threatening, it took getting used to having erratic heartbeats, and it was very tiring when my heart decided to jump to the beat of its own drummers. I even ended up in the emergency room a few times until I learned how to control the episodes.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea five years ago, and I am glad for several reasons. I was not happy that I had a severe case, but I got to the root of most of my arrhythmia problems and eliminated my snoring, which I was unaware of.

I got prescribed a (CPAP) machine, the most commonly prescribed device for treating sleep apnea disorders. It improved the quality of my sleep and reduced my arrhythmias episodes at night and during the day.

Being the curious person I am, I dove deep into sleep disorders and arrhythmias. One book I read was Thrive, by Arianna Huffington, who makes an impassioned and compelling case for redefining what it means to be successful in today's world. A good night's sleep is at the top of her list. She also wrote The Sleep Revolution. She elaborates how "we are in the midst of a sleep deprivation crisis, with profound consequences to our health, job performance, relationships, and happiness. What we need is nothing short of a sleep revolution: only by renewing our relationship with sleep can we take back control of our lives."

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 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 strain it if we sustain unhealthy lifestyle choices over time, especially if they involve long-term sleep deprivation.

Sleep deprivation is strongly linked to inflammation. Chronic inflammation can damage crucial parts of the body, such as the arteries, joints, and other organs. Over time, a persistent lack of sleep may lead to chronic illnesses like 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 digestive system relies on sleep 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 will remain 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 affect 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, leading to inflammation of the lining. 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, the stress hormone cortisol rises. High cortisol levels 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 primary hormone responsible for our sleep, and it is responsible for the sleep-wake cycle. Melatonin affects not only our sleep. It also plays a role in keeping a healthy, well-balanced gut and inflammatory response in the body. Chronic sleep deprivation or insomnia strongly correlates with how melatonin works in our bodies.

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, supporting a healthy immune function. Constant sleep deprivation, 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, 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.

Sleep disorders can start at any age. If you have a sleep disorder, there is a good chance one of your biological parents or your children might too. So there you have it in a nutshell. This is a topic to take seriously and to help you dive deeper into the subject, my special guest on A Dose of Positivity this Thursday is Functional Medicine Practitioner, Ann Johnson.