Waking Up at 💤 Night? It Might Not Be What You Think 🤔

Ever crawl into bed exhausted, only to wake up multiple times throughout the night?

You’re not alone.

 Many factors contribute to nighttime awakenings, but the good news is solutions exist. 

Let’s explore some common culprits and strategies to reclaim your restful slumber.

Low Progesterone (Women): 

Light or fragmented sleep can be linked to hormonal fluctuations. For women, progesterone levels often dip before menstruation. Consult your doctor to check hormone levels, particularly progesterone, around day 5-7 of your cycle.

Chronic Stress or High Blood Sugar: 

Frequent urination at night is known to be a sign of chronic stress or high blood sugar. You know yourself best. Are you overstressed and not taking the time to process? Our brains are amazing and will process excess stress at night if we don’t do so during the day. This is a sign to say “No” to something that’s overstretching you and “Yes” to quiet time or another form of stress management.

If you tend to eat sugar-laden snacks in the evening (which is very common in our society), it can cause a spike in your blood sugar disrupting your sleep. Try switching to 1 balanced snack in the evening, like low-sugar yogurt with a sprinkle of nuts or a brown rice cake with peanut butter, and assess your sleep quality.

Low Blood Sugar at Night: 

Waking up hungry or sweaty could indicate low blood sugar. If you’ve been in a caloric deficit, eat several hours before bedtime, or exclude complex carbohydrates from dinner, you may start to wake up less often if you add a balanced snack with protein, carbs, and fat 1-2 hours before bed.  This will help stabilize your blood sugar and promote longer sleep.

Liver Detoxification Issues: 

Waking up between 1 and 3 a.m. and experiencing night sweats might indicate a sluggish liver struggling with detoxification. Alcohol consumption is a major culprit. Try switching to alcohol-free options like Hiyo, Curious Elixirs, tea, or alcohol-free wine may be satisfying options that support your sleep

If you don’t drink alcohol, do a quick lifestyle inventory. Pesticides, phthalates (commonly in personal care products), and chemicals in plastics are all associated with sleep problems.

By identifying the cause of your nighttime awakenings, you can take powerful steps toward achieving restful sleep. Sometimes it can be as simple as establishing a good bedtime routine, sometimes there are several layers that need to be worked through one step at a time.

If you would like support in sorting through your current habits and lifestyle and identifying things that may be interfering with your sleep, make a free appointment with Coach EJ HERE to find out how nutrition and wellness coaching can work for you.

UP NEXT….4 Stages of the Sleep Cycle