Turkey Time! Sleep Time! Vitamin D and Tryptophan
Do you lie awake through the night, eyes fixed on the clock as the hours crawl toward dawn? The holidays bring joy—but also jam-packed schedules, family dynamics, money worries, and endless lists. No wonder sleep becomes elusive this time of year. If counting sheep isn't making the cut anymore and holiday stress is preventing you from relaxing, your body might be sending you a message—and the solution could be simpler than you think. In our chiropractic practice, we've seen firsthand that achieving wellness comes from many approaches: spinal adjustments and more. Your sleep quality affects everything from your immune system to your back pain levels, which is why we're excited to share some very curious research about two nutrition-based sleep helpers: tryptophan and vitamin D3.
VITAMIN D3: YOUR SLEEP-WAKE CYCLE'S BEST FRIEND
Think vitamin D3 is only for strong bones? It’s time to rethink that! Recent research by Wu and colleagues reveals that vitamin D3 plays a crucial role in regulating your body's stress response system—specifically your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. When sleep gets disrupted (think: holiday anxiety!), this system goes crazy, triggering inflammation and throwing your gut health off balance. (1) Here's the curious part: the study found that vitamin D3 supplementation helps bring back this delicate balance, supporting your body's natural sleep-wake rhythm while strengthening your immune system. It's like giving your internal clock a much-needed tune-up through the most stressful time of year!
TRYPTOPHAN: NATURE'S SLEEP SIGNAL
Everyone knows tryptophan as the culprit behind Thanksgiving food comas, but this amino acid has some super underrated benefits. Wong and colleagues found that tryptophan, especially when combined with prebiotics, works via a fascinating pathway—your gut. (2) By reducing inflammation and supporting healthy gut bacteria, tryptophan helps your body produce the right sleep-promoting chemicals at the right time. Your gut literally talks to your brain about when to sleep, and tryptophan helps ensure they're speaking the same language—even when holiday stress is shouting over it.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Your journey to better sleep doesn't have to requite complicated medications. Supporting your body with vitamin D3 for hormonal balance and tryptophan for gut-brain communication can make a big difference this holiday season.
CONTACT Old Mill Chiropractic
Ready for a well-rested morning? Come to Old Mill Chiropractic. Let's create your personalized wellness treatment plan today!
