Definition
Sleep and digestion are tightly linked. Poor sleep alters motility, appetite hormones, microbiome patterns, and inflammatory tone.
Why it matters
Advice about eating patterns often ignores sleep. Correcting that oversight changes what is possible.
The Science
Sleep restriction increases ghrelin and decreases leptin, promoting hunger. Shift work is associated with altered microbiome and higher risk of IBD and metabolic disease. Late-night eating disrupts circadian metabolic function.
The NSI Perspective
NSI treats sleep as one of the primary regulators of the gut–brain axis.
Clinical Implications
Sleep evaluation belongs in gut symptom evaluation.
Practical Application
When your sleep improves, your gut usually improves. Working the two together is more effective than either alone.
References
- 1.Voigt RM, Forsyth CB, Green SJ, Engen PA, Keshavarzian A. Circadian rhythm and the gut microbiome. Int Rev Neurobiol. 2016;131:193–205.