Good sleep can be a struggle even in the best of times.
But throw in an ugly virus spreading across the country, the even nastier politics of a presidential campaign, and of course all the usual stress of making ends meet and you have a perfect storm for tossing and turning.
You might think there’s nothing you can do about it. After all, you can’t simply stop worrying about these things.
But new research reveals a simple way to get some of the best sleep of your life… even when times are tough. It’s not a drug. And it isn’t even a vitamin.
Instead, it’s something you already know you need… but probably aren’t getting.
Let’s change that today, so you can sleep better tonight.
The prebiotic secret to stress-free slumber
There’s no debate over fiber. We know we need it. And we all know that just about everyone needs more than they’re getting.
But there’s something else about certain forms of fiber that most folks DON’T know.
That plant bulk doesn’t just help with smoother bowel movements. Fiber ALSO acts as food for the trillions of microbes that live in your gut.
These are the same bacteria that can play a role in your brain health, including your mood. And, as the new animal study shows, even on your stress levels at night.
Some of the rodents were given standard feed, while others were given chow enhanced with prebiotic fiber. Then the researchers drove their stress levels through the roof and tracked the effects on their sleep.
The rats on a regular diet spent less time in the REM phase of sleep that’s critical for recovery after stress. Plus, body temperature changes revealed they weren’t getting good rest.
The rats that were given prebiotics not only slept better, but they also spent significantly more time in that essential REM phase.
Diet tweak could lead to better sleep
And here’s the thing. The rats weren’t fed anything exotic or hard-to-find. The prebiotic fibers even included some forms you can easily get from your OWN diet.
- Galactooligosaccharides: Found in beans, lentils, seaweed, and cabbage
- Milk fat globular protein: Found in a wide range of dairy products
Both are also found in certain supplements.
The rats were also given lactoferrin, a protein typically found in breast milk that’s also found in certain supplements, as well as a synthetic sweetener called polydextrose (which you should probably avoid).
But rather than focusing on those specific strains, it’s a good idea to boost your prebiotics in general with more fiber from…
- Beans and lentils
- Fruit such as apples and avocados
- Veggies such as artichokes, asparagus, and onions
- Plenty of greens
Because while the researchers aren’t entirely sure yet if prebiotics will have the EXACT same sleep-enhancing impact on humans, there’s every reason to believe they will.
And besides, there’s no doubt that prebiotics ARE good for you… that you need them… and that they can power up the essential bacteria in your gut that you depend on for overall good health, including a balanced mood.
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