You may also feel more discomfort and tire easily. You may need to urinate more often because the baby may be pressing on your bladder. Your breathing may be easier if your baby has moved down into a head-down position. Your baby may be born before or after your due date.
Your due date is just an estimate of when your baby will be born. According to researchers in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, “sufficient vitamin D status and high seemed to be positively related to the beneficial effects of fatty fish on sleep quality.”īottom line: if you are looking to improve your sleep habits, fall asleep more efficiently and soundly, improve your body’s ability to rest and generally boost your health, try eating more wild-caught seafood.You are now getting close to your due date. in Psychology Today, “melatonin works with the body’s circadian rhythms to help the body prepare for sleep by sending signals to the body that it is time to rest, helping you relax, diminishing levels of other hormones that stimulate alertness, lowering body temperature and blood pressure.”įish also happens to be a great source of vitamin D, and fatty fish in particular are one of the primary dietary sources of this essential vitamin. Vitamin B6 can help your body produce melatonin, which is important in helping regulate your internal clock and your sleep.Īccording to Michael J Breus Ph.D. Just like so many bodily functions and health habits, hormones have a lot to do with how you fall asleep, how you stay asleep and the quality of that sleep. In addition to fatty acids, wild seafood is also packed with certain vitamins that could help promote improved sleeping habits and better quality sleep.įish is rich in vitamin B6, which are believed to promote the production of sleep hormones in conjunction with high levels of DHA. Wild Seafood is Also Loaded with Vitamins The best source of AHA are nuts, seeds and vegetable oils, while DHA and EPA are found in high quantities in fish, particularly wild-caught seafood, such as salmon. There are 3 different types of omega-3 fatty acids: DHA, AHA and EPA. Your body will not make them, so you must make sure that you maintain a diet rich in these important polyunsaturated fatty acids. While your body produces certain essential nutrients naturally, the only way to boost your supply of omega-3s is to consume them. Your Body Does Not Produce Omega-3 Fatty AcidsĪccording to the Cleveland Clinic, wild caught fish are the best food source of omega-3 fatty acids. Those who ate fish had significant improvements both in their sleep, and also in their daily functioning post-test. These adult males consumed fatty fish three times a week for several months. The researchers found that higher quantities of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, one of the omega-3 fatty acids found in wild salmon) in the subjects’ blood, compared to those who took a placebo, may be connected to better sleep among children.Ī more recent study connected DHA intake with better sleep quality among healthy young adults, and indicated that EPA might be important in regulating how much sleep is optimal for our bodies.Īnother study published the same year in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine examined sleep habits and sleep quality among healthy adults in the US, and found that “fish consumption seemed to have a positive impact on sleep in general and also on daily functioning,” according to the study results. Here’s what we know so far:Ī 2014 study published in the Journal of Sleep Research looked at the effects of fatty acids on sleep disturbance and quality of sleep among children in the UK. There has been a lot of scientific research in recent years investigating the connection between fatty acids and sleep, and you can expect to hear a lot more about this topic as more clinical trials and studies are conducted as a part of this growing body of research. But these fatty acids may also positively impact your quality and duration of sleep. Omega-3 fatty acids are powerful nutrients with the ability to boost our health in a number of ways, from fighting depression to reduced inflammation, improving brain function and combating the risks of heart disease. Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Be the Key to Improved Sleep
Poor sleep doesn’t just lead to dark under-eye circles and irritability the next morning - inadequate sleep can also negatively impact your overall health, your cognitive health, your ability to function in daily tasks and your emotional state, just to name a few.īut good news if you’re one of more than 50 million people in the US who struggles with a sleep disorder, or if you’re just plain old tired and not getting enough Z’s: eating more wild seafood might help improve your sleep. If you struggle to get a solid night’s rest, you know first-hand that the consequences of sleeplessness are not only frustrating, but also lasting.