Trick or Treat: The Surprising Ways Sugar Haunts Your Sleep
Halloween is just around the corner, and while we all love a good trick or treat, the real trick might be what sugar is doing to your sleep. You might think indulging in a few sweet treats is harmless, but the effects of sugar can haunt your sleep long after the candy wrappers hit the trash.
The Sweet Sleep Saboteur
Sugar is one of those sneaky culprits that can mess with your body’s natural rhythms. Eating sugary treats, especially later in the day or evening, causes your blood sugar to spike. In response, your body pumps out insulin to bring those levels back down. The problem is, once your blood sugar drops too low—what we call a “crash”—your body releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol to balance things out. And guess what? That adrenaline rush makes it tough to fall asleep.
Now, I’m not saying you have to skip Halloween or say goodbye to your favorite candies forever. But if you value a good night’s sleep—and trust me, you should—there are ways to enjoy the holiday without letting sugar haunt your rest.
How Sugar Affects Your Sleep
Here’s the thing about sugar and sleep: they don’t get along very well. Studies have shown that diets high in sugar can reduce slow-wave sleep, which is the deep, restorative sleep your body needs to recover. On top of that, consuming sugar before bed can lead to more frequent awakenings throughout the night. This leaves you tossing and turning, wondering why you can’t seem to stay asleep.
Sugar also disrupts your circadian rhythm, the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. This cycle controls the release of melatonin, the hormone responsible for making you feel sleepy. When your blood sugar is constantly spiking and crashing, it confuses your circadian rhythm and can delay the release of melatonin, making it harder to fall asleep.
Tips for Managing Sugar Around Halloween
So, what can you do to keep sugar from sabotaging your sleep this Halloween? Here are a few tips:
- Time Your Treats: If you’re going to indulge in sugary snacks, try to enjoy them earlier in the day. This gives your body time to process the sugar and get your blood sugar levels back to normal before bedtime.
- Pair Sugar with Protein or Fat: Having a protein or fat-rich snack alongside your candy can help stabilize your blood sugar levels, preventing those dramatic spikes and crashes. Think of adding some nuts or a little bit of cheese with your sweets.
- Hydrate: Water is your best friend. Sugar can dehydrate you, and dehydration can make you feel tired but jittery at the same time. Staying hydrated can help flush excess sugar from your system and keep you feeling balanced.
- Watch Your Overall Intake: It’s easy to mindlessly snack on candy throughout the day, but keeping an eye on portion sizes and limiting your overall sugar intake can help minimize the impact on your sleep.
A Sweet Solution for Better Sleep
If you do find yourself tossing and turning after indulging in some treats, don’t panic. Sleep Remedy can help you get back on track. Formulated with natural ingredients to support your body’s natural sleep processes, Sleep Remedy promotes deeper, more restful sleep—regardless of how much candy you’ve snuck from your kids’ Halloween stash.
The trick to a great night’s sleep is supporting your body, not stressing it. So, enjoy the treats, but remember to set yourself up for a night of sweet dreams, too.
Sleep Remedy
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Doc Parsley’s Sleep Remedy is a natural sleep aid, formulated with a blend of calming nutrients to help you fall asleep faster and improve your sleep quality. Doctor-developed and recommended, it’s non-habit forming and safe for daily use.