Three of the hardest things to stay persistent about are your diet, exercise, and sleep. We either get too much or too little of one or another, which can affect our daily life—particularly when it’s time to turn the lights out. Knowing how diet and exercise can help your sleep disorder may motivate you to make the appropriate changes today.
Your Diet
There is no concrete data on how poor food and drink choices affect your sleeping disorder. Yet, evidence indicates a connection between what you eat and how you sleep. When your diet consists of inferior quality and highly processed carbs, such as those found in candy, noodles, and sugary beverages, your sleep quality will diminish. In contrast, high-quality carbs, such as those found in seafood, whole grains, and veggies, will enhance your sleep.
One huge mistake many fall victim to is unwinding with an alcoholic beverage. While it may have a positive short-term effect, alcohol use can throw off your circadian rhythm, making it harder for you to fall asleep. Another detriment to your sleep is spicy food, which can lead to unfortunate experiences, such as heartburn, keeping you awake.
Your Exercise Regimen
Regular exercise has several advantages, including a decreased risk of diseases, improved physical capabilities, and a greater quality of life.
Moreover, exercise enhances sleep for many individuals. Mild to vigorous exercise may enhance the overall quality of sleep for adults by lowering sleep onset and decreasing the number of minutes they remain awake in bed. Additionally, physical exercise may improve daytime drowsiness and minimize the need for sleep medicines in certain individuals.
Moderate-to-vigorous physical exercise can also reduce the risk of excessive weight gain, which then reduces the likelihood of experiencing obstructive sleep apnea symptoms (OSA). And by losing weight and reaping the benefits of a CPAP machine, your OSA could vanish indefinitely.
Your Sleep
It’s readily apparent that diet and exercise correlate to how well you sleep, possibly even ridding yourself of a sleeping disorder such as sleep apnea or insomnia. But getting quality sleep is vital for other health reasons, such as fending off common illnesses, reducing stress, and thinking more clearly. A sleep disorder makes you feel like you are in an uphill battle that’s hard to win.
Learning how diet and exercise can help your sleep disorder helps give you your “why” for making the necessary life changes. Don’t lose sight of what’s important, as these changes take time to adjust. But you’ll have no regrets and feel infinitely better when you engage in a healthier lifestyle.
