Phew - are restless and sleepless nights currently defining your sleep situation? This can certainly have various reasons, but one of them is probably less expected. In fact, current studies show that our gut flora can influence our sleep quality. Exciting, right? In this blog post, we have researched all the important questions about gut flora and sleep for you.
Why is healthy sleep so important?
Sleep and rest phases are so important for us and our bodies! Here, the body can regenerate, we can calm down, and process the day's experiences. Our immune system is also particularly active during sleep, and inflammation in our body is reduced. It's all the worse when our sleep is disturbed and we wake up already exhausted the next morning. There are many reasons that can disturb our sleep, such as stress, using a smartphone before bed, or even heavy meals - but also chronic sleep disorders. The consequences: daytime fatigue, lack of concentration, and frayed nerves.
Studies show that a healthy gut flora can improve our sleep quality.
Oh yes, and how it can - through a unique connection: the so-called gut-brain axis. Our digestive organ is connected to our general well-being, because nerve pathways run directly from our gut to the central nervous system in our head. Thus, the two organs are always in direct communication with each other - a large part of the communication flows from the gut to the brain, and only 10% of the signals come from the head brain to the gut brain. This explains why stress and the associated sleep problems are also controlled from our gut. Amazing, isn't it?
And how can I support my gut now?
Billions of microorganisms live in our gut, which are essential for our digestion, our immune system, and thus also for our general well-being. To maintain or restore the delicate balance of our gut flora, both probiotics and prebiotics play an important role. They can also help to improve our sleep quality. Our med gut basis gently supports the development of gut flora in your child and you, especially during or after antibiotic therapies, with digestive problems and diet-related challenges, as well as for long-term use in immunological processes (e.g. in the context of neurodermatitis).
You need more tips on how to integrate a daily gut routine into your family life. No problem - we have collected exciting ideas for you here.
We hope that with this knowledge, you will soon be able to enjoy peaceful nights again. With that in mind: a restful good night!
Pssst 🤫 Do you already know our Good Night Spray? The soothing, vegan formula with 100% pure essential oils of lavender and stone pine naturally promotes relaxation and sleep quality. Feel free to try it out!
O U R E X P E R T Dr. med Michaela Hagemann I boep founder, doctor &
3-time mom
Literature:
Smith, R. P. et al. (2019). Gut microbiome diversity is associated with sleep physiology in humans. PLoS ONE, 14(10), e0222394. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222394
