Even small differences in sleeping habits between work and rest days could lead to unhealthy changes to the bacteria in our guts, London researchers have found.
Small differences in sleeping habits between work and rest days could lead to unhealthy changes to the bacteria in our guts, a study suggests.
Having a wide range of different species of bacteria in your digestive system is really important. Some are better than others, but getting the right mix is key to preventing a number of diseases."[Social jetlag] can encourage microbiota species which have unfavourable associations with your health," said Kate Bermingham, study author and senior nutrition scientist at health science company Zoe.
Participants in this study, in the European Journal of Nutrition, had their sleep and blood analysed, stool samples collected and recorded everything they ate in a food questionnaire. "Poor quality sleep impacts choices - and people crave higher carb or sugary foods," says Dr Bermingham.The researchers found that three out of the six microbiota species which were more plentiful in the social jetlag group are linked to poor diet quality, obesity and higher levels of inflammation and stroke risk.