There are still people who think that drinking alcohol can help you sleep better, but the reality is exactly the opposite. Drinking alcohol harms your sleep and does not allow you to rest deeply. In this article, we tell you why you sleep worse when you drink alcohol.
Non-alcoholic drinks are a good option to sleep better. If you want to know more, read our article on the benefits of stopping drinking alcohol.
How does alcohol affect sleep?
Studies show that alcohol alters the release of melatonin in the brain. Melatonin is the hormone that the brain releases when it wants to sleep. According to Jennifer Martin, psychologist and professor of Medicine at UCLA, “alcohol is initially a sedative, but as it is metabolized, it is an activator.”
At the beginning of the night, it has a calming effect, but later alcohol can suppress rapid eye movement, or REM sleep, which is when most dreams happen and is the key stage for the physical and mental restoration of your body. These are the effects on your sleep:
- Interrupted sleep and insomnia: alcohol causes you to wake up more often during the night and have difficulty falling back asleep. Also, as it is a diuretic, you may wake up more often to go to the bathroom.
- More vivid or stressful dreams: sleep fragmentation also causes more stressful dreams, and you are more likely to remember them.
- You snore more: alcohol is a muscle relaxant and acts on the muscles of the upper airways, interrupting the normal breathing process. As a result, you snore more. It can also be dangerous if you have sleep apnea.
- You are restless: by affecting the REM phase, it decreases your body’s restoration time and you wake up feeling unrested.
- You have less energy: the next day you have less energy and concentration due to poor quality sleep.
Non-alcoholic drinks for sleeping better
Non-alcoholic drinks are a good option for sleeping better while enjoying an original flavored drink. Have dinner with non-alcoholic wine or end the party with an alcohol-free gin cocktail. With alcohol-free alcohol drinks, you are guaranteed to sleep better and more deeply, which will allow you to be 100% and have energy the next day.
The experience of our sports clients is that by stopping drinking alcohol they have noticed that they have much more energy to train and they achieve better results. For some, non-alcoholic beers have been a perfect alternative. Many reasons show that alcohol-free alcohol drinks are a good option to lead a healthier life.
When should you stop drinking alcohol before going to bed?
If you want to drink in moderation, experts recommend stopping drinking alcohol at least four hours before going to bed to avoid interrupting your sleep. If you want to evaluate how alcohol affects your sleep, it is recommended not to drink alcohol for 2 weeks and analyze the effects on your sleep. Perhaps your insomnia is caused by alcohol and therefore has an easy solution.
The Blue Dolphin Store is the online store where you will find the widest range of non-alcoholic drinks. In addition, we are experts so if you have any questions, contact us.
