The days of thinking our intestines only play a role in the digestion of food are long gone. Scientists now refer to the gut as our ‘second brain’ – with studies linking beneficial bacteria to reduced risk of Alzheimer’s and depression. New research points to yet another reason to prioritise a thriving microbiome: it may help us nod off.
To make things even more interesting, studies suggest that the relationship between the gut and sleep is bidirectional – it goes both ways. Put simply, imbalanced gut bacteria can contribute to a poor night’s rest, while disturbed slumber can encourage ‘bad’ gut bacteria to thrive.
An unlikely pairing
In the grand scheme of things, knowledge around sleep and gut health is still in its relatively). That said, scientists believe there are several mechanisms at play.
