Experts confirm that a healthy gut microbiome can significantly improve sleep quality. Struggling sleeper Esmir, 45, embarks on a six-day sleep detox with shakes and juices. Could this be her key to dreamland? Seize the Santé exclusive offer now!
When my boyfriend and I hit the hay together, he's out in five minutes, snoring away while I toss and turn for hours. Even solo, I spend about three hours staring at the ceiling each night—not from stress, just insomnia. I relax easily but struggle to drift off. Only a strong rum-cola knocks me out quickly, yet alcohol leads to light, interrupted sleep, waking me midway. In short, restful sleep has been elusive.
I've tried everything: special 'good night's tea,' pitch-black room, no social media pre-bedtime. Nothing works. Then I read Supersleeping by Floris Wouterson, sleep expert at Sleepwise. He reveals that gut flora is a key driver of quality sleep.
Wouterson explains: "Your gut holds 400 times more melatonin than the pineal gland and as many neurotransmitters as the brain. GABA, for instance, promotes relaxation and calms brain activity to ease sleep onset."
Recent studies show gut bacteria disrupt after just three poor sleep nights. "An imbalanced gut flora confuses your circadian rhythm, as it regulates biorhythms and sleep patterns," Wouterson notes.
I never linked my insomnia to my gut—I eat healthily, so I assumed all was well. But Wouterson clarifies: "Your gut hosts good, neutral, and bad bacteria. Neutral ones shift based on diet."
The main issue? Biofilm—a plaque-like layer lining the intestines that impairs function. Like slime on wilting flower stems, it harbors bacteria and dries the gut lining, blocking nutrient and hormone absorption. Over time, this upends hormone balance, causing low energy, mood swings, frequent sniffles, irritability, and poor sleep. I dodge mood swings but check the boxes for sniffles, daytime energy dips, and insomnia.
Wouterson's six-day sleep detox targets gut biofilm. Dreaming of full nights and refreshed mornings, I committed to trying it.
Curious about the results? Read if the detox transformed Esmir's sleep in the October Santé issue.
Sleepwise's six-day program features seven daily shakes, mixed with fruit juice or coconut water for flavor and extra calories. It starts with two reduction days, ends with two build-up days of warm veggies and organic soups. Skip alcohol, coffee, and fats—they dehydrate the gut or overburden the liver, reducing effectiveness. Learn more at Sleepwise.nl.
Santé readers enjoy over €50 off: get the six-day program for €399 instead of €450 this month in 2020. Includes seven daily shakes, e-book, supplements, and free shaker.
Visit Sleepwise.nl/sante and use code sante. Offer valid until October 27, 2020.
