Insomnia is a sleeping disorder that can be manifested as the following symptoms:
difficulty in falling asleep
finding it hard to stay asleep and then waking up multiple times in between short naps
waking up tired despite the long sleep
A total of 33 to 45% of Americans are reported to suffer from insomnia. This lack of sleep can cause various problems, including headaches and depression.
Here, we explain how the carnivore diet may help with your sleep.
The carnivore diet is a zero-carb diet. It includes organic, grass-fed meat, poultry, and fish. Zero carb diets are helpful to eliminate inflammation from the body. They regulate hormones, and improve your mood.
Protein from meat gives you a satiated feeling, and this also has a good impact on your sleep.
Melatonin Regulation
Melatonin is the key hormone in regulating the circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is the biological clock of our body that drives our sleep and waking patterns. The pineal gland secretes melatonin in the dark, but exposure to light stops its production.
Melatonin synchronizes our sleep and wakefulness with night and day, thus promoting an easy sleep transition and improving its quality.
This hormone is not in balance in people who stay awake at night. For this reason, it’s among the first supplements to be used for improving the quality of sleep.
Meat contains a lot of melatonin, and eggs and milk are also good sources. By eating these foods, a carnivore diet potentially promises you better sleep every night.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids from Fish
Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the polyunsaturated fatty acids found in salmon and sardines. A study was conducted to see the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on sleep in kids, and the results showed that these fatty acids increase the length and quality of sleep.
How these fatty acids are beneficial remains a matter of debate. Some theories suggest that these reduce the inflammatory processes in the body, which improves the quality of sleep.
A more sound theory describes the relationship between melatonin (a hormone regulating circadian rhythm) and these fatty acids. According to this study, docosahexaenoic acid (an Omega 3 fatty acid) levels are directly related to melatonin. With increased melatonin levels, sleep quality can be improved.
Iron and Vitamin D
Both of these nutrients help with insomnia, and are at the heart of the carnivore diet because they are meat-based nutrients. Vegetarians often suffer from iron and vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D found in meat helps with circadian rhythm because it helps with the synthesis of the melatonin hormone.
Iron is helpful for sleep because sleep problems have been reported in patients with iron deficiency anemia (a blood disorder in which there is decreased oxygen-carrying capacity of blood due to low iron).
Iron is also part of various chemical reactions in the brain that maintain sleep physiology. Though much of the research is yet to be conducted, adequate iron uptake can be helpful for your sleep.
An absorbable form of iron is found in beef, chicken, oysters, and sardines.
Conclusion: Carnivore Diet vs Insomnia
Although no specific studies have been conducted on the carnivore diet and insomnia, we can see that the nutrients prioritized on an all-meat zero carb diet can help with melatonin production, which benefits your sleep.
An ancestral-inspired lifestyle that helps you set a natural good circadian rhythm through time spent outdoors will also do wonders for your sleep. Coffee on the carnivore diet is not recommended, so a reduction in caffeine may also help you sleep.
The carnivore diet can also help other health conditions:
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