Ah, sleep. Catching z’s. Getting our beauty rest. Hitting the hay. Whatever we call it, we need sleep, and most of us don’t get enough of it. Not getting enough shut-eye has a tremendous impact on the human body. From weight gain to weakened immune systems, not getting enough sleep has detrimental consequences on our health and energy levels. But we can do things that can pave the way to an adequate slumber session, and collagen might be one of them. Here’s what you need to know:  

What happens when we don’t get enough sleep? 

According to the National Sleep Foundation, young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 years old and adults between the ages of 26 and 64 years old should receive 7-9 hours of sleep a night, but no less than 6 hours and no more than 10. Older adults over the age of 65 should receive between 7 and 8 hours of sleep but not less than 5 hours or more than 9 (Lichenstein, 2015). Why is this? Because getting enough sleep is essential to our overall health and wellbeing.  

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute states that people who experience deficiencies in their sleep experience more health complications like kidney disease, heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes (Lichenstein, 2015). Studies have also indicated the relationship between sleep issues and gastrointestinal problems.  

Not getting enough sleep now and then will leave you tired and irritable the next day. However, an occasional sleepless night won’t necessarily impact our health. When we experience several nights without a restful sleep, we notice the long-term implications. When we don’t get enough sleep, our bodies experience: 

A weakened immune system

The substances that defend our immune system renew themselves when we are sleeping.

Increased risk of diabetes

Our bodies can react to lack of sleep with insulin resistance – the precursor to diabetes 

Increased risk of heart complications 

A study by the European Heart Journal in 2011 found a 48% increased risk of developing or dying from coronary heart disease in people who don’t get enough sleep. Yikes!  

Overeating 

When we don’t sleep, our bodies lower the amount of leptin, a hormone responsible for appetite suppression. Additionally, lack of sleep raises our levels of ghrelin, an appetite stimulant. This results in uncontrollable, turbo-charged hunger and overeating. Been there? Us too. Not a fan.

Skin problems

Our skin is an organ near and dear to our heart here at Indigo, and when you don’t sleep, your skin gets angry. Sleep is the prime time for the body to repair damaged cells and renew the old ones. If you don’t get enough sleep, this doesn’t happen, and as a result, the appearance of your skin takes a toll. #BeautyRest, amirite?  

Coordination problems 

Naturally, lack of sleep makes our muscles weaker, which is why we experience the sensation of having heavy eyelids when we don’t sleep. The same can also be said of our ability to process space and coordinate our bodies.  

Hallucinations 

This happens in extreme cases of prolonged lack of sleep and sleep deprivation. We encourage you to look up the historical data on sleep deprivation; it is both exciting and terrifying.  

Irritability and Mood Changes

Many symptoms of mood disorders and emotional control tie in closely with sleep problems. For example, research has shown that people with chronic insomnia are at a greater risk of having anxiety and suicide. 

Digestive problems 

Research published by the Mayo Clinic in 2004 found that people with insomnia frequently experience heartburn, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, and other symptoms like constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and gas.  

These are just some of the problems that can arise when we aren’t getting the sleep we need. If you’re looking for ways to improve your sleep quality, collagen may be able to help you avoid insomnia and j 

How can collagen help us sleep? 

Collagen is an essential protein that has countless benefits. It helps us have healthy hair, nails, and skin and even helps maintain and strengthen our connective tissues and joints. The most dominant amino acid found in collagen is Glycine. This amino acid has been linked to achieving more restful sleep and improved mood stability. Glycine can help with falling asleep faster, staying asleep longer, reducing insomnia, and achieving a deeper sleep.  

The main functions of glycine in our bodies are 

- Aids in the digestion of foods  
- Helps produce energy for the muscles and brain 

- Aids in regulating blood sugar 
- And helps your body make the hormone serotonin that aids in mood and sleep functionality  

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How to Get More Glycine  

The amino acids found in collagen are deficient in our western diet partly because we no longer consume animals the way our ancestors did. We don’t typically eat the skin or bones found in fish, and we don’t typically boil the bones of animals for hours to extract collagen and create bone broth (although some of us do, and that is excellent).  

For those looking for some relief, it’s essential to know that glycine supplements are available. Still, we encourage you to be selective, as most products aren’t regulated or have the necessary testing to ensure safety.  

However, hydrolyzed collagen peptides, like Indigo Marine Collagen, contain glycine, the powerhouse amino acid known to assist in achieving more restful sleep. Additionally, our products go through extensive third-party testing. To learn more, visit www.indigocollagen.com! Thanks for reading, and rest easy, friends. 

References

Can Collagen Help You Sleep? (n.d.). Womenandwellness.com. Retrieved from https://womanandwellness.com/can-collagen-help-you-sleep/ 

Lichtenstein G. R. (2015). The Importance of Sleep. Gastroenterology & hepatology, 11(12), 790. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4849507/ 

Yaneff, J. (2017, January 5). 15 Side Effects from Lack of Sleep. DoctorsHealthPress.com. Retrieved from https://www.doctorshealthpress.com/general-health-articles/side-effects-of-lack-of-sleep-on-your-body/