Day 11: Alcohol and Sleep
I am going to continue with what I learned from the Trained Podcast with Dr. Matthew Walker because there was so much information within the episode. A lot of people think a night cap may be helpful with getting a good nights sleep. Well, think again. Alcohol is a misunderstood sleep aid. People should avoid using alcohol to aid with sleep because alcohol is a sedative. It was noted that sedation is not sleep and people misunderstand this. They think it is helping with relaxation and sleep but in reality…it is not.
Alcohol does not produce natural sleep. It is sedating your brain. Those who drink alcohol prior to going to bed will miss out on deep sleep. Throughout the night, the sate of sleep will be shallower. Alcohol also produces fragmented sleep patterns, waking you up throughout the night, something individuals may not remember. In return, the next day feelings may be sluggish or unrefreshed due to lack of quality sleep. It also blocks REM sleep.
I guess I should put down this glass of red wine.
Source: Trained a Podcast by Nike. The secret to improve Your Metabolism, Reaction Time and Longevity Season 2, Episode 5 - Dr. Mathew Walker.
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