8-Hour Myth BUSTED [Sleep Like a Baby]
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted February 9, 2024
Let me paint you a picture.
You’re lying awake at midnight, praying for sleep.
After all, you KNOW how vital sleep is for your health. And, once again, you WON’T get your full eight hours.
But the MORE you clock watch, the more stressed you become and the LESS likely you are to drift off.
Sound familiar?
You’re stuck in a sleep-robbing worry loop. But the good news is, I have the CURE.
It’s could help you start sleeping like a baby again… no pills, potions, or strange exercises required.
I’ll be honest. The sleep studies can look a bit dire.
Research shows folks who regularly get less than eight hours of sleep often have worse blood sugar control, gain more weight, struggle with mood problems, and are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s.
But it turns out eight hours is far from the WHOLE story.
NEW research reveals that sleep regularity may be MORE vital to your health than duration.
So even if you’re a “short sleeper” who finds it impossible to clock a full eight hours a night, you’re not doomed to cognitive decline or other sleep-linked health problems.
CONSISTENCY is the key. Regularly getting around the same AMOUNT of sleep is just what the doctor ordered.
Restless nights spent tossing and turning, counting sheep, and stressing about not getting “enough” sleep are unnecessary.
That said, AIMING for seven to eight hours of quality slumber a night IS a good goal. But you don’t need to obsess about that if that’s not in the cards. And it’s not uncommon for us to sleep less as we age.
The reason WHY a consistent sleep schedule is so critical turns out to be surprisingly simple. It throws your body clock out of whack.
Irregular sleep wreaks havoc with your circadian rhythm, triggering inflammation and stress.
So, make it a habit to go to bed and get up around the same time EVERY DAY… even on the weekends. And make sure you’re getting quality, uninterrupted shuteye when you do.
And another thing…
Here’s what else we’ve covered this week in Living Well Daily…
Mysterious Belly Link to Alzheimer’s REVEALED
A new Alzheimer’s study reads a lot like a good detective story. And the researcher’s discovery has us looking at the belly INSTEAD of the brain.
Fire Your Sofa to Save Your Brain
The old saying “use or lose it” applies to the LAST place you’d ever want to see that happen… your BRAIN. But not how you’re thinking.
WEIRD Ear Trick EASES Pain (No Pills!)
There’s a weird painkiller out there that you’ve got to hear to believe. It’s a method for using your EARS to ease your pain.
Mailbag: 7 Alzheimer’s Early Warning Signs
Feeling forgetful lately? Worried about your memory? Find out if it’s a normal part of aging or early Alzheimer’s. Seven signs to look for.
The TRUTH About Multivitamins REVEALED
I can’t tell you how often I’ve been asked if multivitamins are worth the money. My answer is always the same…
“Hobby Hack” Keeps Your Brain Fit for LIFE
Supplements, good sleep, and exercise are vital for brain health. But you can take another surprisingly effective (and fun!) step.
P.S. Struggling with poor sleep? Try a circadian rhythm REBOOT.
Source:
Daniel P Windred, et al., “Sleep regularity is a stronger predictor of mortality risk than sleep duration: A prospective cohort study,” Sleep, 2023;, zsad253, doi. org/ 10.1093 /sleep /zsad253
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
View More Free Articles
A New Reason to Ditch Processed Junk
If you’ve ever walked the inside aisles of your local grocery store and thought, “This is all just junk,” your instincts were spot on. A new study published in the journal Thorax just added another red flag to the list of dangers linked to ultra-processed food—a 41 percent higher risk of lung cancer. That’s right....
When Being Winded on Stairs Is Serious (And When It Isn’t)
I had an athlete visit me recently because he experienced shortness of breath while climbing stairs. He is in great shape, so he was worried about what it might mean. “Doc,” he said, “I run five miles three times a week. Why am I huffing and puffing after two flights of stairs?” His concern is...
Study EXPOSES Hidden Danger Lurking in Your Car
We think of our homes and cars as safe havens. But according to a startling new study, they may be flooding your lungs with microscopic plastic particles—every single day. Researchers in France recently found that adults inhale an average of 68,000 microplastic particles daily from indoor air alone. To put that in perspective, that’s about...
Mailbag: Is Modern Food Making You Snore?
“What can cause snoring, and is there a way to correct this issue?” —Seeking Silence Hi Seeking, Snoring happens when the soft tissues in your throat relax and vibrate as air passes through during sleep. While several factors can cause snoring—from sleep position to nasal congestion—I want to share one trigger that might surprise you....
Simple Food Swap SLASHES Dementia Risk 28%
Let’s be honest… who would jump at the chance to cut their dementia risk by 28 percent. And no, you don’t need to run marathons, survive on broccoli, or learn to play the zither (whatever that is) to make it happen. All it takes is one easy swap—something that’s probably already in your refrigerator. Researchers...
This SMART Floss Exposes Hidden Health Danger
Scientists have created dental floss that doesn’t just clean between your teeth—it also tracks your stress while you’re flossing. Now, I know what you’re thinking… “Great—now even flossing is going to stress me out by telling me how stressed I am.” But this fascinating new tool from Tufts University could be a game-changer for understanding...
Is This "Safe" Sweetener Damaging Your Brain?
The headlines are alarming… “Popular Sugar Substitute Linked to Brain Cell Damage” and “Erythritol Could Damage Critical Brain Barrier” are just two of the dozens I’ve spotted recently. But before you toss every sugar-free product in your pantry, let’s take a closer look at what this study actually shows—and what it doesn’t. The latest research...
This Summer Threat Could SPIKE Your Blood Sugar
Picture this… It’s another scorching hot summer day. You crank up the air conditioning while watching the weather forecast, which predicts yet another “record-breaking” heat wave. It’s starting to feel like just another miserably uncomfortable summer. But what you might not realize is that—if you have diabetes—those rising temps could do far more damage to...
Move Over Yogurt—5 Foods That Pack MORE Probiotics
Let’s talk about your gut. The microbiome is the collection of trillions of bacteria and other tiny organisms that live in and on your body—especially in your gut—and help keep you healthy. I’ve written often about how vital it is to maintain a healthy microbiome. And you might have dutifully added yogurt to your shopping...
Is Your Heart Older Than YOU?
Maybe you feel young for your age. Good energy, decent sleep, eating your veggies. But what if I told you your heart might be a decade older than the rest of you? That’s exactly what researchers at Northwestern University found in a new study published in JAMA Cardiology. The average American woman’s heart is about...