We all know sugar isn’t the best for us, yet we typically give in to those late-night sugar cravings. You probably think to yourself, “oh it’s just a cookie”, not realizing how much sugar before going to bed truly affects your sleep. Falling asleep after eating sugar, whether it’s just a cookie or a soda, is detrimental to your sleep. 

The Correlation Between Foods and Sleep

The food you put into your body has a lot to do with how you sleep. Sugar can give you a small boost of energy, but then that fades and you can be left more tired than you were before. Even though it can leave you more tired, it actually causes many disruptions in your sleep schedule. There is a chemical in our bodies called orexin and it is what makes us feel awake. People who consume a lot of sugar tend to have lower orexin, which therefore makes them feel more tired. Even though those who consume a lot of sugar may feel more sleepy, they tend to not sleep as deeply at night and wake up at various times throughout the night.

5 Ways Sugar Wrecks Your Sleep

Even though sugar can make you feel sleepy, it can disrupt your sleep in various different ways. Below are five common ways in which sugar has been known to disrupt your sleep:

  • Nightmares- Eating sugar before going to sleep was found in a recent study to have the possibility of causing nightmares.
  • Night Sweats- People who consume a lot of sugar either before bed or in general, can cause their body to produce more insulin. Insulin is the hormone in your body that has the job of turning sugar into energy. Thus, night sweats are a common symptom of this.
  • Snoring- Having a high intake of sugar can worsen or even cause snoring while sleeping. This happens because the sugar intake can cause inflammation in your throat and/or nasal passage.
  • Stimulates Appetite- If most of your meals consist of sugar, your body is primarily going to want sugar. Sugar can release dopamine in your brain and gives you the feeling of being happy. This can increase your appetite for sugar and cause many restless nights. 
  • Increases Stress Hormones- When you go into a sugar crash, your body uses cortisol, the stress hormone, to balance your blood sugar back out. When you’ve had your sugar craving before bed and you’re tired, go to sleep, and then keep waking back up in the middle of the night, this is because your body is pumping cortisol and is increasing your stress levels.

Fix Your Sleep at Jacksonville Sleep Center

Jacksonville Sleep Center is dedicated to helping you get your sleep back. Our highly qualified doctors such as Dr. Peter Nassar, the Medical Director at Jacksonville Sleep Center, specializes in a wide array of sleep conditions. Dr. Nura Festic is a Board Certified Sleep Medicine Physician and has a wide array of sleep expertise. We are able to provide you with the best experience possible with our dedicated staff. Visit our website or call today to make your appointment.