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Healthy sound sleep depends on proper nutrition
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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For a long time, nutritionists have been asking the question: what is the connection between nutrition and healthy sleep? Recent research by specialists from Pennsylvania (USA) has brought us as close as possible to answering this question that is relevant to all inhabitants of the planet. The study made it possible to analyze and determine the average duration of restful sleep for people with different nutrition systems.
A study conducted by US specialists allows us to draw conclusions about a clear connection between the quality of a person's sleep and their diet. The leader of the experiment identified several categories of human sleep duration: - less than 5 hours - too short a sleep, insufficient for rest - from 5 to 7 hours - short sleep - 7-9 hours - normal healthy sleep of an adult - 9 or more hours - long sleep associated with a painful condition.
The results of a survey conducted among a large number of adults showed that people who consume insufficient amounts of complex carbohydrates and liquids have more restless and, as a result, too short sleep. People who sleep longer than 8-9 hours usually practically do not consume coffee, black tea and chocolate, and their bodies also show a deficiency of choline. Choline is classified as a B vitamin, and high levels of this substance are found in chicken eggs and offal.
Alcohol also has a significant impact on human sleep: people with alcohol addiction experience restless and intermittent sleep over time, while those who drink alcohol occasionally experience longer sleep than teetotalers.
On the other hand, researchers have found that people who sleep about 6 hours do not eat a very varied diet. A healthy eight-hour sleep, which, according to doctors, is optimal for restoring strength after a working day, is present in those who eat a balanced diet and do not have bad habits. People who do not drink enough water (experts say 1-1.5 liters daily) sleep less than 6 hours, despite being tired.
At the moment, scientists are interested in the topic of the relationship between sleep and the nutrition system. The head of the study announced that the next topic for experiments will be determining the possibility of influencing a person's sleep with the help of various diets and food combinations. The scientist believes that the human body can be controlled even with the help of a separately balanced diet. Also, according to the specialist, determining the ideal combination of products that could provide optimally healthy and sound sleep could become a revolutionary invention in dietetics.
Without a doubt, the quality and duration of sleep are influenced by each product separately, as well as their combination, total caloric content, balance of nutrients and vitamins.
The duration of sleep can also be affected by chronic diseases, age and the general physical condition of a person. It is worth remembering that in older people, sleep becomes more restless and sensitive, and for diabetics, five hours of sleep is more the norm than an abnormality.
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