I barely have time to get six hours of sleep as it is, and lately I’ve been waking up three or four times a night. I can’t be this exhausted all through the holiday season! Can a diet tweak help me sleep?
It sounds like adrenal fatigue may be the cause of your nighttime wake-ups. When these glands are overworked from chronic stress, they become unable to produce sufficient amounts of cortisol—a hormone that plays a key role in maintaining blood-sugar levels around the clock. This can lead to middle-of-the-night blood-sugar dips that cause fitful or restless sleep and further tax the adrenals.
The Rx: Consume a high-protein snack like a hard-boiled egg or a whey protein shake 30 minutes before bed. Protein stabilizes the blood sugar and promotes the production of the sleep hormone melatonin. This starts a positive cycle since sound sleep helps the adrenals rebuild during the night, which makes you feel calm and energized throughout the day.
