This Supplement Could Help Ease Anxiety and Improve Your Sleep Quality
Despite loving a lazy day in bed, sleep hasn’t always been one of my strong suits. I tend to toss and turn, often waking up in the middle of the night to check my phone. I’ll be the first to admit that my sleep quality isn’t the best, and it seems like no soothing sleep spray or comfy bedding can truly remedy the issue. So I was excited to come across new research that suggests taking daily probiotic supplements could be a simple solution for better sleep.
Do probiotics help you sleep better?
A recent study published in Nutrients looked at whether taking supplements containing a probiotic called NVP-1704 could improve rest. The study authors acknowledge that probiotics are essentially fuel that feeds the good bacteria in your gut, noting that NVP-1704 contains a mixture of probiotics that have been shown to regulate gut function and immune response to help ease anxiety and depression. This positive effect comes in handy at night when your body is trying to relax before falling asleep.
Participants included 156 healthy adults between the ages of 19 and 65 years old. Researchers asked 78 of them to take two probiotic capsules a day with water for eight weeks, while the remaining half took a placebo. They also filled out questionnaires asking about their self-reported symptoms of stress, anxiety, sleep quality, depression, and insomnia.
At the end of the study period, researchers found that the group taking the probiotic supplements had experienced an improvement in sleep quality, as well as a reduction in their depression and anxiety symptoms. Therefore, they concluded that taking daily probiotics could be a huge plus for your gut health and sleep quality over time.
Which probiotics are good to buy for sleep?
Not sure which capsules to try? Check out our list of the best gut-healing probiotics for women over 50. That way you can rest easier and get additional gut health perks like an energy boost and clearer skin. (And remember: It’s always a good idea to chat with your doctor before starting a new supplement.)
As for me, I’ll definitely be adding a probiotic supplement into my diet to help me get my rest at night!
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