There is a link between good sleep, gut health and well-being

Sleeping well is essential for good health. For those used to skipping a good night’s sleep, a new study by researchers at Nova Southeastern University in Florida has found a link between good sleep and gut health, suggesting quality sleep helps general well-being.

The study published in the American journal Plos Oneindicates that a good night’s sleep can have important consequences on intestinal health and vice versa, thus influencing the general well-being of an individual.

According to Jaime Tartar, professor and research director in the College of Psychology at Nova Southeastern University, and a member of the research team, there is a strong link between bidirectional gut-brain communication and their influence on each other. The study based on previous theories that support this two-way communication, prompting researchers to wonder if lack of sleep can have a significant negative effect on gut health and microbial diversity.

The researchers started by studying the level of diversity and the genetics of the microbiome present in the gut, which can include microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi that are found in the gastrointestinal tract. The researchers believed that by analyzing the microbial diversity in the gut, one could understand the link between sleep and gut health.

For the study, subjects wore what Jaime Tartar calls a “supercharged Apple Watch” to bed, to monitor all sorts of vital signs. This monitoring helped the researchers determine the quality of their sleep, before testing their gut microbiome. The review found that those who slept well had a better gut microbiome, because it was more diverse.

According to Jaime Tartar, the diversity of gut microbiomes, or lack thereof, is associated with other health conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease and autoimmune diseases, as well as psychological health (anxiety and depression.) More the more diverse a person’s gut is, the more likely they are to have better overall health.

Calling quality sleep the “Swiss army knife of health”, Jaime Tartar says his research has established that a good night’s sleep improves microbial diversity in the gut, which can lead to overall well-being and improved health. better health of the individual, while a lack of sleep can have harmful effects.

Previous reports have established that inadequate sleep can lead to short-term (stress, psychosocial problems) and long-term (cardiovascular disease, cancer) health problems. Researchers say that during the deepest stages of sleep, the brain “cleans up” while communicating with the gut, and that sleep quality impacts other aspects of human health.

Recent research has also focused on the mechanisms and consequences of acute and chronic stress in humans and the influence of normal sleep and lack of sleep on emotional processing and physiological functioning.

What determines the gut microbiome?

According to Robert Smith, an associate professor and research scientist who is also part of the research team, three factors go into determining a person’s gut health. The first factor is genetics, as some people are genetically predisposed to have a more diverse gut microbiome than others. The second is related to medications (certain medications, including antibiotics, can influence the diversity of your gut microbiome). Finally, our diet can also play a role.

Robert Smith and his team, which also included colleagues from Middle Tennessee State University, examined the association between sleep, the immune system, and measures of cognition and emotion. According to him, understanding how these elements of human physiology could lead to a better understanding of the “two-way communication” between the person and their gut microbiome, and could lead to new sleep intervention strategies.

Professor Smith believes that the preliminary results of the study are promising, but that there is still room for further research in this area. For those, on the other hand, who suffer from insomnia or lack of sleep, improving gut health could be a big step in improving their sleep quality.