Rest, Repair, Digest

Did you know that poor sleep can negatively impact your digestive system?

Sleep: More Than Just Rest

Most of us think of sleep as a simple way to rest and recharge, but it’s actually one of the body’s most powerful tools for healing. While sleep deprivation is commonly associated with fatigue, it can also disrupt nearly every system in your body. Chronic lack of sleep has been linked to hypertension, obesity, heart disease, stroke, mood disorders, and even cognitive decline.

But one area that often gets overlooked? Your digestive system.

The Gut’s Nighttime Healing Process

During sleep, your body shifts energy toward repair and restoration, including the healing of gut tissue. The cells in your digestive tract have some of the fastest turnover rates in the body, and sleep gives them a chance to rest, regenerate, and maintain optimal function.

When sleep is poor, these cells stay in overdrive, which can impair gut healing and reduce digestive efficiency during the day. If sleep disturbances affect the quality or quantity of rest, these cells can’t properly regenerate. Over time, this can lead to digestive dysfunction like bloating, gas, and irregularity.

The Sleep-Hormone Connection

Sleep also plays a crucial role in regulating the hormones that control digestion and appetite:

• Ghrelin, the hunger hormone, increases when sleep is disrupted, making you crave more food.

• Leptin, the hormone that signals fullness, decreases, making it harder to feel satisfied.

This hormonal imbalance often leads to stronger cravings for quick comfort foods, think refined carbs, sugars, salty snacks, and low-quality fats like chips, cookies, fast food, or sweetened coffee drinks.

Why Intuitive Eating Feels Harder When You’re Tired

If you’ve tried intuitive eating, you know how confusing this can feel. When your hunger and fullness cues are driven by poor sleep and low energy, trusting your body becomes nearly impossible, even when you’re trying to listen.

Other Ways Poor Sleep Disrupts Digestion

Beyond hunger hormones, lack of quality rest can also cause:

• Immune dysfunction

• Increased inflammation

• Constipation

• Microbiome imbalances

• Reduced melatonin

• Low stomach acid

All of these affect how you feel day to day, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The Takeaway

Sleep isn’t just a luxury; it’s a critical part of gut health. Prioritizing quality rest can improve digestion, balance hunger hormones, and support your body’s natural healing processes.