
Here’s what we’ll cover in this blog post:
- How circadian rhythm and metabolic health intersect
- How to repair your circadian rhythm
- How AgelessRx can help
You may have heard about the importance of sleep for your health—but did you know the timing of your sleep is just as critical?
Disruptions to your body’s natural internal clock can do more than just impact how rested you feel—it can affect your metabolism, as well. Irregular sleep patterns can disrupt our circadian rhythm, leading to glucose spikes, slowed digestion, and disrupted appetite regulation.
But aligning your sleep with your natural sleep and wake times could be a simple, yet powerful way to improve your metabolic health. Here’s what research says about sleep and metabolic health, and what you can do to turn science into action.
Why your internal clock matters
Your circadian rhythm plays a much larger role than just determining when you fall asleep. In fact, it influences mood, homeostasis, and hormone regulation—and it’s fundamentally tied to how your body processes and stores energy.
Studies show that irregular sleep patterns can elevate hunger hormones like ghrelin, impair insulin sensitivity and fat metabolism, and even disrupt digestion. Circadian rhythm also regulates our gut microbiota, which impacts inflammation in our bodies.
Over time, these effects accumulate, contributing to metabolic dysfunction and increasing the risk for age-related chronic conditions.
Small adjustments, significant results
Even though circadian rhythm affects a large part of our lives, we don’t have to go to great lengths to fix our sleep cycle.
Small, targeted changes can yield significant results:
- Don’t eat before bed
Simply leaving a gap of at least 2 hours between your meal and bedtime can help synchronize your circadian rhythm. - Cut the lights
Dimming the lights 1-2 hours before bed and limiting blue light exposure can stimulate our bodies to release the sleep hormone melatonin, which helps repair our circadian rhythm. - Exercise
Staying active for at least 30 minutes helps promote melatonin production, which doesn’t just help to reset your circadian rhythm, but also helps you get more quality sleep. - Sunshine
Without sunlight, we can have trouble sleeping and staying awake. Studies show that taking a short walk in the sun each day can help improve our circadian rhythm. If you live in a place that makes it hard for you to get sunlight, try artificial sunlight or vitamin D supplements. - Medications
Prescription medications like Trazodone can help restore healthy sleep architecture, while other therapies like NAD+ injections can improve sleep length and quality.
Optimizing circadian rhythm for enhanced healthspan
Disruptions to sleep and metabolism can accelerate aging, leading to unwanted weight gain, low energy, and poor overall health. By targeting the root causes of these issues, you can take a proactive approach to not only feel better today, but also safeguard your future health.
If you’re not sure what’s causing your sleep issues, why not talk to an AgelessRx expert? With a longevity consultation, you can learn more about your unique biology so you can better understand what’s keeping you up at night. Should you need a prescription boost for help you rest, you’ll already be talking to an expert prescriber.
By acting now to maintain a regular sleep routine, you’ll set the foundation for sustained health and energy as you age. So don’t sleep on better sleep—take steps to improve your sleep quality today, so you can enjoy more healthy years in the long term.
Note: The above statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.