Turkey Time! Sleep Time! Vitamin D and Tryptophan
Are you staring at the ceiling each night, unable to sleep as morning approaches? As the holiday season arrives with its whirlwind of obligations—back-to-back events, family dinners, mounting expenses, and lists that never seem to end—restful sleep becomes increasingly hard to find. If counting sheep isn't making the cut anymore and holiday stress is keeping you wired, your body might be sending you a message—and the answer could be simpler than you think. As chiropractors practicing chiropractic care, we know that wellness can go past the spine care to include nutrition and exercise and more. Your sleep quality affects everything from your immune system to your back pain levels, which is why we're excited to share some very curious research about two nutrition-based sleep supporters: tryptophan and vitamin D3.
VITAMIN D3: YOUR SLEEP-WAKE CYCLE'S BEST FRIEND
Vitamin D3 for bones? That's just the beginning. Think bigger! Recent research by Wu and colleagues reveals that vitamin D3 has a crucial role in maintaining your body's stress response system—particularly your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. When sleep gets interrupted (hello, holiday anxiety!), this system goes off the track, triggering inflammation and throwing your gut health off balance. (1) Here's the curious part: the study found that vitamin D3 supplementation helps bring back this delicate balance, helping you sleep better at night while keeping your immune system strong. It's the reset your body clock craves when holiday madness hits.
TRYPTOPHAN: NATURE'S SLEEP SIGNAL
Tryptophan: it's not just about turkey-induced naps. Wong and colleagues found that tryptophan, especially when combined with prebiotics, works via a fascinating pathway—your gut. (2) By reducing inflammation and supporting healthy gut bacteria, tryptophan helps your body produce the right sleep-promoting chemicals at the right time. Your gut literally talks to your brain about when to sleep, and tryptophan helps ensure they're speaking the same language—even when the noise of holiday stress tries to silence it.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Your journey to better sleep doesn't have to requite complicated medications. Supporting your body with vitamin D3 for hormonal balance and tryptophan for gut-brain communication can make a big difference this holiday season.
CONTACT Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Ready for a well-rested morning? Come to Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC. Let's put together your personalized wellness treatment plan today!
Schedule your next La Grande chiropractic appointment today.
