‘How does gut health affect sleep, exactly?’ Don’t worry, you wouldn’t be the first person to ask this question. After all, quality sleep can be difficult to attain among many adults these days. For example, a 2016 study conducted by the Sleep Health Foundation found 33-45% of Australian adults mentioned that they had at least one symptom of insomnia. 

Though some research has begun to suggest that a healthy gut might be the key to a quality night of sleep - specifically, by maintaining and supporting the microbiome.

If you’re wondering ‘how does gut health affect sleep?’ - you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, we’ve covered everything you need to know about the microbiome and how it impacts our sleep quality. Find out more below. 

What Is The Microbiome? 

Before we dive into the nitty gritty, let’s cover the basics - what is the microbiome?

The microbiome is a collective of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms found in the international tract. This elaborate network is made up of trillions of microbes - with up to 1,000 various species of bacteria. In fact, this aggregated bacteria can weigh up to 2kg alone. 

Each of these unique species of microorganisms contributes to our general health and well-being in many different ways - whether it’s supporting gut health, mental health, immunity, heart health, and more. 

In other words, the gut’s microbiome is quite a complex system, to the extent that it’s essentially another organ of the body. 

How Does Gut Health Affect Sleep?

So, how does gut health affect sleep? Let’s answer this popular question. 

The microbiome influences more aspects of our health and well-being than you’d initially expect, including our digestion, immunity, heart health, and mental health. Though it doesn’t stop there - this congregation of bacteria is also believed to help with our sleep in many different ways. 

Firstly, it’s believed that the good bacteria in the microbiome can promote good sleep. This 2017 study investigated the effects of consuming a daily probiotic drink. The process involved splitting the participants into 2 groups - one group was given a probiotic drink daily, and the other was given a placebo. 

At the end of the study, it was found that students drinking the probiotic drink reported better sleep than the placebo group. 

On top of this, it’s also believed that the microbiome can influence sleep quality based on its production of sleep-regulating hormones. Microorganisms in the gut are responsible for creating melatonin, serotonin, and more - which means our gut health can impact our internal clock or circadian rhythms to an extent. 

More evidence is required to indicate exactly how gut health influences our sleep quality exactly, though the research is very intriguing. 

How To Sleep Better At Night

If you’re wondering how to sleep better at night, we’ve got you sorted. Below, we’ve listed 4 tips you can use to get a good night's rest. Check it out. 

Have A Sleep Schedule 

One of the best things you can do to promote a good night's sleep is to create a sleep schedule and stick to it.

By going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day, you can maintain your body’s internal clock. Not only does this process invite good quality sleep over time, but it can also allow you to wake up naturally without an alarm. 

All you need to do is create a sleep schedule that best suits your lifestyle and responsibilities, then stick to it as best you can. 

Create A Relaxing Space 

Another great way you can promote good rest is to transform your bedroom into a relaxing space. 

When the bedroom is cluttered with distractions, such as laptops, phones, or other devices, our sleep tends to suffer. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to make this space more rest-friendly. 

For example, you can turn your bedroom into a sleeping sanctuary by using essential oils, keeping the space tidy, putting your devices away, or controlling the temperature. 

Exercise Daily 

Exercising daily isn’t only a great tip for maintaining general health, but getting into this habit will also benefit your sleep quality. 

A low to moderate workout during the day can help to reduce the time it takes to get to sleep, improve sleep duration, reduce anxiety, and more. 

For all these benefits, it’s well worth creating a workout routine to promote a better night’s sleep. 

Look After Your Gut 

With all this talk of gut health and how it affects our sleep, how could we not include this last point? After all, it’s clear just how important the microbiome’s role is when it comes to getting quality rest. So, if you’re looking for ways to improve your sleep, consider making your gut health a priority. 

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can feed the good bacteria in your gut, whether it’s by eating a diverse diet, avoiding high-sugar treats, or using a good daily probiotic. 

Before you know it, your gut health will be thriving - helping you get a better night’s rest. 

Perkii Probiotic Shots 

If you’d like to start supporting your microbiome with healthy gut bacteria, we’d suggest trying these Perkii Probiotic Shots. 

These aren’t your basic probiotics - firstly, they’re bottled with 8 billion target-release probiotics. This means that you can rest easy knowing these bacteria are going to survive through your stomach acid and actually reach your gut in one piece - so they can work their magic. 

If that’s not enough, they’re also packed with vitamin C to support immunity. And they come in 3 delicious flavours - Super Berry, Super Greens, and Super Ginger. 

Head to the online store now to shop the range. 

*The information in this article should be considered as advice only. Before using probiotics or implementing any of the information above, speak with a healthcare professional.