Ever wonder why you frequently wake up at 3 a.m. and can't get back to sleep? This health expert has the answer.
Don't blame the supernatural for regularly waking up at ungodly hours. According to Dave Asprey, known to many as the "Father of Biohacking," the answer lies in blood sugar.
In a recent Instagram post, the New York Times bestseller explains that people who usually wake up between 3 and 5 a.m. experience a crash in their blood sugar which forces the body to release cortisol and adrenaline to power up brain function. Unfortunately, this process also wakes one up.
"Most people who wake up feeling that way ... [their] body said, 'I needed some glucose to power my brain to do its cleaning process at night. I'm out of glucose.' Here's an answer -- how about cortisol and adrenaline? Because those release sugar really quickly," Asprey said in a clip from his podcast, "The Human Upgrade with Dave Asprey."
"[The] problem is, cortisol and adrenaline wake you up. So the brain's like, 'Yeah, thanks. I got what I needed' and you're going, 'I didn't get my sleep. This is not cool.'"
Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the kidneys that helps regulate blood pressure, blood sugar, and the body's stress response, Cleveland Clinic explained.
Epinephrine, aka adrenaline, is a hormone and a neurotransmitter. As a hormone, it is released by the adrenal gland and is directly linked to the body's blood sugar.
For those suffering from this bedtime problem, Asprey recommends a simple remedy -- a "small snack before bed" consisting of raw honey, collagen, and MCT oil.
MCT oil is a supplement sourced from coconut oil and is known to offer many health benefits, including helping the body burn fat, providing more energy, and supporting the management of autism and epilepsy.
According to the National Council on Aging, more than a third of Americans get less than seven hours of sleep and 30% of adults have symptoms of insomnia.
Good sleep, on the other hand, supports brain function and helps decrease the risk of some serious diseases.
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