Indigestion and Sleep Problems

The link between indigestion and poor sleep

Indigestion is much more common than we tend to think. Some of the usual symptoms of indigestion are so common that we don't even take them that seriously. For instance, heartburn is quite common. It is often an indication that indigestion is happening. Still the usual approach to heartburn is to fight it off with anti-acids. Many people who experience heartburn just accept it as a normal part of life.

There is a strong relationship between indigestion and sleep problems. For some it leads to a less restful sleep. Indigestion may also lead to frequent urination at night, which may keep a person awake more than necessary and unable to go back to sleep. In fact, according to some, digestive problems can also be a cause of nightmares.

Signs of indigestion

Many of us are not familiar with the typical signs of poor digestion. We often just accept these 'signs' as normal and do not make the connection to what we eat. Typical signs of poor digestion are:

Other possible signs of poor digestion includes rashes, dandruff, ecsema, athlete's rash, feeling spacious, headaches and lower back aches.

Anyone experiencing sleep problems should analyze their diet to see what they are eating that may contribute to their problems, making sure that they avoid eating foods that can cause digestive problems right before going to sleep.

If you are a person with a sensitive digestive system or you experience heartburns frequently, or any other sign of poor digestion, you should seriously look into your diet. The reasons for poor digestion may be anything from allergies and food sensitivities, to poor food combining, to eating foods that are completely out of season.

Dietary solutions to improve sleep

Food sensitivities

Many people, more and more it seems, are experiencing problems digesting dairy products and wheat products. The problem may not be severe enough to fall into the category of allergies but is instead referred to as a food sensitivity. This means that the body is lacking an enzyme to break down a certain substance, such as lactose in milk. It can also mean that the digestive tract is compromised and unable to break down the tough proteins found in certain foods, for instance gluten in wheat.

When foods remain undigiested in the stomach, yeasts can grow out of control, feeding on food remains, which can lead to systemic yeast infections. When this happens our bodies become sluggish and easily tired.

If one is experiencing digestive problems one should focus on eliminating suspect substances, such as wheat and dairy, from the diet to figure out what is causing the problems. This is best done under the supervision of a qualified and skilled naturopath or MD however.

Some known trouble foods are:

 

Heartburn

Heartburn can be a sign that a food sensitivity is present. Taking anti-acids will only cover up the symptoms and will do nothing to resolve the underlying issues. Instead one should focus on finding out what the cause is. Many people who suffer from chronic heartburn are diagnosed as having a ruptured diaphragm, which allows for the stomach acid to reflux into the throat after consumption of large meals or certain foods.

However, an underlying issue with food sensitivities can be the real cause of the heartburn and why the condition is not healing. Eliminating those foods from the diet should be the first step in overcoming heart burn.

Digestive enzymes, available at a natural health food store, go along way in reducing heartburn for many people. They truly assist a compromised stomach with digestion. Taking enzyme pills while one is trying to improve one's condition can be a very good solution.

Poor Food Combining

Besides food sensitivities, poor food combining is generally a common cause of poor digestion. Generally, our stomachs are not made to consume a hodgepodge of different foods. A modern day dinner may consist of foods from five or more categories of foods, and they all need different conditions in the stomach to digest properly. For instance, a supper may contain rice, meat, cooked vegetables, raw vegetables, a sauce made with dairy, and perhaps a glass of wine or beer. To this may be added a dessert on certain occasions. 

To the stomach this may be utterly confusing. Vegetables and starchy foods are best digested in an alkaline environment, before the stomach secretes stomach acids, while meats need the highly acidic stomach acid to digest properly. Consuming them at the same time may cause a digestive catastrophe.

Starchy foods and protein rich foods do not mix well

It is a good rule of thumb that foods that contain predominately starches, such as potatoes, rice, pastas, etc, and foods that contain predominately proteins, such as meats, do not mix well in the stomach. Vegetables can be eaten with either starchy foods or protein foods, while fruits should not be eaten with either vegetables or starchy foods.

As stated, this is a rule of thumb, it is important however to develop a sense of intuitive ability to tune in to ones own stomach and feel what is right for the stomach at the moment of eating.

Trust your intuitive ability to direct you

Look at the animals around you. They all seem to know what they can and cannot eat. A dog will eat grass when it has an upset stomach for instance. A cow seems to have a natural sensing for what herbs and plants are edible. Trust that you have this ability too! Trust that your body is able to give you similar directions on what is best for you to eat. You can start doing this by bypassing your taste buds and ask yourself, whenever you are confronted with a decision about what to eat, what will feel good in the stomach. With a bit of practice you should be able to make out what foods will work for you and when.

This requires effort but will pay off greatly, especially if you have a sensitive stomach. You will notice that some foods are fine to eat in the morning, while if you eat them in the evening they will upset your stomach, and vice versa.

Eating foods that are out of season

In today's world we can literally eat anything from any part of the world at any time of the year. Thought this may seem tantalizing and desirable at first, truth is that it may cause more troubles than we first may think.

Besides the costs to the planet from shipping products accross the planet so that we can have exactly what we desire, the costs to our health may be as dramatic.

Nature has designed itself, or we have adapted to nature over the years, so that the foods that are ripe and readily available at different times of the year happen to be best suited for our bodies.

Natures natural menu

In the northern hemisphere for instance, berries such as strawberries ripen early in the summer to provide fresh food after a long winter. Other berries ripen sequentially during the summer. Later in summer the very sweet fruits ripen, to give us an opportunity to put on some weight and stock up on nutrients before winter. Even later, the fruits and vegetables that are extremely long lasting, like apples, potatoes, rutabagas, squashes, ripen to give us food for the winter months.

Of course, humans have been omnivores for most of its history and animal meats have always been used to complement the vegetable diet. It appears however, as if for most people this kind of vegetable and fruit based diet has been the main staple for most of history.

When we all of a sudden change the situation and make all foods available all the time, we confuse our bodies. When we eat berries and sweet fruits in the winter we send a signal to our bodies saying that it is summer. In summer different conditions apply. Sunlight is plenty, hence lots of available vitamine D, it's much warmer, which means the body doesn't have to work as hard to stay warm.

At the same time, in the spring and throughout summer, our bodies are naturally drawn to eating fruits, berries and green vegetables, that will cleans the body from all the toxins accumulated over winter.

Any person can do his or her body a favor by focusing their diet to what is more seasonally approprate food. It helps to look around to see what is locally available during the seasons.

The link between indigestion and sleep should be taken seriously!

There are many other possible causes of poor digestion. Too many to touch upon here. Anyone with sleep problems should consider the link between indigestion and poor sleep. Properly functioning digestion helps with calming both the body and mind, which can only assist in promoting good sleep.