A new study suggests eating less saturated fat, lower sugar intake with more fibre can be linked to better sleep, and fewer arousals during the night.
From the study co-authored by Dr Marie-Pierre St-Onge and Dr. Nathaniel Watson, President of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine; published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine; we were made to know that the more fibre people take, the longer time they spend in their most restorative phase of sleep, often referred to as ‘slow wave.’
The 26 adult participants in the study all said they fell asleep faster i.e. 17 minutes after eating a meal prepared by a nutritionist, which was higher in protein and lower in saturated fats when compared to theirs which took them 29 minutes to fall asleep.
“Our main finding was that diet quality influenced sleep quality, said Dr St-Onge. It was most surprising that a single day of greater fat intake and lower fiber could influence sleep parameters.”
Dr. Nathaniel said:
“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.”
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“The finding that diet can influence sleep has tremendous health implications, given the increasing recognition of the role of sleep in the development of chronic disorders such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” Dr. St-Onge concluded.
