The correct amount of nightly sleep is between 7 to 9 hours, depending on your body’s unique needs. This means chucking aside your devices and focusing on getting to bed instead of binge-watching your favorite shows! It also means trying to have a regular, reasonable sleep schedule.
But what happens if you’re doing everything you can to ensure you receive sufficient sleep, but still fall short? What if you simply can’t sleep, and lay awake for hours? What if you wake up constantly during the night, or wake up still feeling exhausted?
Believe it or not, these sleep issues could be caused by some kind of deficiency. If you’re lacking a certain nutrient or hormone, your body may be unable to get the rest it needs.
HERE ARE 7 DEFICIENCIES THAT MAKE IT HARD TO FALL ASLEEP
1. VITAMIN B12
Vitamin B12 is a vitamin that is water-soluble and cannot be made by the human body on its own. Mostly, it can be found in animal products, so it’s important for those who don’t eat meat to make sure they’re getting enough of it.
A lack of this vitamin has been linked time and time again to a variety of sleep issues, including insomnia, restless sleep, and fatigue during the day. Though the exact effects are still being studied, there is plenty of evidence that shows that taking B12 supplements in small doses can boost sleep quality and prevent sleep disturbance.
In addition, a lack of vitamin B12 in one’s diet can lead to mood issues, including depression and a lack of positive thinking. These problems can make you feel even more tired, or, worse still, exacerbate existing sleep troubles in general. You might toss and turn, have a mind too full to relax or find yourself waking up throughout the night.
Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include:
Sleep issues
Poor digestion
Headaches and migraines
Depression
Cramps
Fatigue
Cognitive decline
Here are some food options for extra vitamin B12:
Sardines
Trout
Salmon
Animal kidneys
Animal liver meat
Fortified cereal
Clams
Tuna
Beef
Nutritional yeast
Milk and dairy
2. VITAMIN D
Vitamin D deficiency doesn’t sound like it would be very common, but a shocking 41% of people in the US have this issue to some degree. It makes sense, however, when you think about how many people spend their lives indoors, working in offices or doing other similar tasks; additionally, many people are aware of the dangers of intense sunlight and try to avoid it.
The body produces vitamin D naturally when you are out under the sun; it’s not extremely common in sufficient doses in food, though there are some places you can get it. More importantly, a lack of vitamin D can actually manifest in a higher risk of developing different sleep disorders, including insomnia. As a matter of fact, any erratic or unusual composition of vitamin D makes it hard to fall asleep.
Too much vitamin D – whether from consuming too many supplements or basking in too much UVB light – is just as bad and can lead to excessive sleepiness during the day. This will essentially mess up the body’s natural sleep cycle, so you won’t be able to fall asleep when night falls. Meanwhile, in men, a lack of vitamin D can lead to less than five hours of night sleep.
Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include:
Hair loss
Regular illness
Back pain
Muscle pain
Slowed healing of wounds
Fatigue
Bone pain and loss
Depression
Here are some food options for extra vitamin D:
Sardines
Egg yolk
Oatmeal and cereal
Cod liver oil
Salmon
Oysters
Orange juice
Shrimp
Herring
Caviar
Canned tuna
Mushroom
Milk and soy milk
3. IRON
Anemia is a very common condition, defined as a deficiency in the mineral iron. It can actually be quite serious and cause a host of other health conditions if left unchecked. Mild deficiencies do not typically manifest so severely, but they do cause minor issues – and one of those issues has to do with sleep.
Anemia is a common factor in a condition known as restless leg syndrome. As its name suggests, it involves the uncontrollable movement of the legs, especially when lying down. This means that, even if you fall asleep fine, the sudden jerking of your limbs can cause you to wake back up again, ruining your sleep. This may carry on repeatedly throughout a whole night.
There are plenty of iron-rich foods available, but iron supplements are fairly common. It is worth noting, though, that if you are consuming iron-rich foods but continue to show signs of anemia, it may be the sign of a more serious health issue. Speak to your doctor if you notice any such issues.
Symptoms of iron deficiency include:
Appetite loss
Fatigue and lethargy
Chest pain
Brittle nails
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Weakness
Short breath
Cold extremities
Increased, rapid heart rate
Cravings for non-food items
Sore or inflamed tongue
Here are some food options for extra iron:
Green vegetables
Red meat
Fish
Lentils
Offal
Seeds
Duck
Turkey
Egg
Nuts
Dried fruit
Pork
Chicken
Whole grains
Beans
4. VITAMIN B6
Commonly known as pyridoxine, this water-soluble nutrient is crucial for the conversion of amino acids into the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin. This means it facilitates positive thinking and keeps your mood balanced.
The balanced levels of serotonin are also good for you because they help to balance your melatonin in turn. In short, one balanced hormone usually leads to other equally balanced hormones. So, regulating your mood is essentially crucial to your sleep.
In addition, studies have shown that individuals who do not consume sufficient vitamin B6 wind up dealing with bad quality of sleep. Further research indicates that consuming supplements for vitamin B6 help sleep cycles to be more restorative and restful; study participants woke up feeling more refreshed and energized every morning.
Vitamin B6 can be found in foods such as chickpeas, salmon, watermelon, and spinach.
Symptoms of vitamin B6 deficiency include:
Increased frequency of sickness
Cracking or soreness in lips
Exhaustion
Swelling, redness, or smoothness of tongue
Pain in extremities
Tingling in extremities
Rashes
Mood swings
Seizures
Here are some food options for extra vitamin B6:
Salmon
Beef
Milk
Tuna
Grapes
Chicken liver
Sweet potato
Chickpeas
Avocado
Banana
Nuts
Ricotta
Mango
Green peas
Eggs
Cereal
Pineapple
Spinach
Carrots