People may initially notice minor sleep disturbances when starting intermittent fasting. This usually subsides within a week as the body adjusts to the new schedule.
After this period, most people report improved sleep quality when fasting, especially when they synchronize the timing of meals with the body’s natural sleep circadian rhythm.
Circadian rhythms, biological clocks, melatonin… Let’s talk about fasting and sleep !
Read the full article here : https://www.wefast.care/articles/fasting-and-sleep
My anecdotal experience is that I already have sleep issues due to adhd related insomnia. Fasting for sure makes it worse at first if I don’t fast for awhile. I’d say that my quality of sleep in the amount of time I get sleep has improved a lot. But I’m not sure if it’s the mechanics of fasting helping or just my improved health and diet. When I do extended fasting I have to keep up supplements and exercise or I don’t sleep for 2-3 days at a time.
Actually you’ve just reminded me that I need to get back on the fasting train (I’d fallen off) because my sleep was so much better when I was doing 16:8 I stopped eating around 7 or 8 pm and was a lot better for it.
This is what brought me to IF! I was having insomnia and I ended up going to my doctor to talk about treatment. I didn’t want to go on sleep meds, so she suggested (along with other strategies) that I try intermittent fasting. And voila, I slept! I fully admit it could be psychosomatic and because I believe it works, it does. But either way, IF has really been a game changer for my insomnia!!
I sleep consistently better when fasting. I stop eating quite early (14:30) but do have a hot drink and some ACV and lemon water (with hot water) at around 18:00. I find my body is happy to sleep to get the hunger over with, lol. Now I’m hoping I haven’t jinxed it! Hmmmm…. It may also be that my body knows what to expect? Like I still go to bed and get up at pretty much the same time whether I’m working or not as well.