Fiber has been getting some good press in recent years. What used to only be a tool for constipation relief found in prunes or a supplement, is now thecenter of many diet planstohelp with weight loss, fight inflammation, boost heart health and prevent other chronic health conditions. And new research shows we can add another benefit to fiber’s lengthy list:improving your sleep.
One third of us get less than 7 hours of sleep per night—and experts believe it’s causing a health crisis in our nation. Sleep isessential for our mental, heart and immune health, as well as helping us maintain a healthy weight. Most of usblame our sleep problems on stress, technology or our partner’s sleeping habits, but new research shows boosting our fiber intake could help us get the sleep we are craving—thanks to what happens in our gut.
Researchers from The University of Colorado at Boulder found increasing your prebiotic fiber intake couldimprove your sleep quality. However, this study was conducted on animals, so we reached out to our favorite gut health expert, Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, M.D., M.S.C.I., to find out if there was any research to back up the benefits of fiber for sleep in humans.
“[This study] needs to be taken with a grain of salt and confirmed in humans,” Bulsiewicz says. “But it shows that consuming foods containing prebiotics may have the added benefit of a better night’s rest and protection of the gut microbiome with more resilience to stress.”
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So, What Are Prebiotics, Anyways?
“If you want prebiotics, the ideal source is quite clear—plants.” Bulsiewicz says. “All plants contain prebiotic fiber, but not all prebiotic fiber is the same. This is why consuming a wide variety of plants is the best way to enhance your gut health. And it just may mean that you rest more peacefully at night, have a healthier gut and aremore resistant to stress.”
Some of ourfavorite prebiotic fiber-rich foodsinclude whole-wheat breads and pastas, walnuts, bananas, beans, onions, garlic and asparagus. These foods are essential for good health as prebiotic fiber helps feed the good bacteria in our gut, which plays a role in nearly every aspect of our health. Good gut health isassociated with strong immunity, weight loss, glowing skin, improved mental health and a laundry list of other benefits. Dr. B also says your gut health is a huge part of getting the sleep you need.
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The Gut-Sleep Connection
“Have you ever noticed that when you’re sleep deprived you also have a ravenous appetite, like a dog that’s been caged up for a week and was just released to its first big meal?Research showsthat sleep deprivation causes a shift in your microbiome that resembles what you find in someone with obesity,” Bulsiewicz says. “They also found that insulin resistance gets worse when this happens. This means that you could eat the exact same food but spike your blood sugar simply due to a bad night’s rest and the resulting changes in your microbiome.”
Dr. B says a recent study out of Nova Southeastern University discovered thatsleep and the microbes in your gut feed off each other. Their research found that when you lose sleep, you also lose diversity in your microbiome. Thankfully, the reverse is true and getting the 7-9 hours of sleep you need will replenish the diversity of bacteria in your gut. The diversity of your microbiome is essential for holistic health, as different microbiota areassociated with different health benefits—including reducing your risk of developing chronic diseases.
“Not only have I seen it in my patients, but I’ve lived it first hand,” Bulsiewicz says. “Our gut microbes thrive on consistency. Jet lag or even the hangover of daylight savings time can be traced back to its origins in your gut.”
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Dr. B says when he was an internal medicine resident working 30 hours straight at a time, he was typically too busy to eat, picking up fast food on the way home before crashing for 16 hours straight and repeating the process all over again. He says it wasn’t long before he gained weight (about 50 pounds), increased his blood pressure and anxiety and developed digestive issues. Upping his fiber intake and focusing on his gut health was crucial for him to lose the weight, lower his blood pressure and reduce his anxiety during this busy season of his life. (You can read more about it in his upcoming book,Fiber Fueled, which comes out May 12).
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Gut-Healthy Behaviors to Implement for Better Sleep
“Sleep is a time for rest, both for you and for your gut,” Bulsiewicz says. “That means the best gut-friendly behaviors around sleep time are to let your gut rest, and to gently support it with prebiotics and probiotics. By gut rest, I’m calling out all you late-night snackers! Your gut thrives on consistency and timing of food. It’s best to have an early dinner and then water fast for several hours prior to bedtime.”
There is one exception to the rule here: your probiotic supplement.Those who take a probiotic supplement may also want to consider taking it before bed instead of in the mornings. A 2017 study found those who consumed a probiotic drink withLactobacillus caseiexperienced improved, more restful sleepthan those drinking a placebo beverage. (It’s important to note we don’t all need to be taking probiotic supplements, as Dr. B previously told useveryone reacts differently to each strain, but they can be helpful for boosting your gut health).
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The Bottom Line
Simply boosting your fiber intake isn’t a surefire way to start getting the sleep your body needs—especially if you are living with a sleep-related health condition—but it’s a great place to start. The studies mentioned are justseveral of many convincing studiestying high-fiber diets to better sleep, but we also have to think about the bigger picture.95 percent of us don’t get enoughfiber, so upping your daily intake offiber-rich foodscan only help boost your overall health.
6 High-Fiber Food Swaps to Make Right Now
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