The Critical Link Between Sleep and Your Relationship with Food
In this episode hosts, Nina Manolson and Jennie Kramer discuss the importance of sleep and its profound connection to how we manage food, hunger, and overall well-being.
Their conversation touches on the challenges that affect lots of women, from balancing busy schedules to managing the impacts of hormonal changes and menopause, all of which disrupt sleep patterns and influence eating behaviors.
Sleep and Hunger Signals
Find out how sleep deprivation affects your body's hunger cues. Jennie explains how the body often confuses hunger, thirst, and fatigue, making it essential to pause and ask, "Am I hungry? Thirsty? Or just tired?"
This check-in allows us to respond to our body's actual needs, instead of mistakenly reaching for food when rest is what’s truly required.
“When we don’t get sleep, our hunger hormones, ghrelin and leptin, are out of balance, making it harder to know when we're full." — Nina Manolson
The Psychological and Emotional Impact
Nina highlights how a lack of sleep puts us into survival mode, impacting not only our cognitive functions but also how we interact with others. It becomes harder to be present, patient, and compassionate with ourselves and others when we're sleep-deprived. This creates a cycle where exhaustion drives us toward quick fixes, often in the form of unhealthy foods, to manage our energy and emotions.
“When we don’t sleep, we’re in survival mode. We’re not at our most heart-wide open because we’re just trying to get through the day." — Nina Manolson
Sleep as a Form of Self-Care
The conversation shifts to the broader theme of how sleep is an essential form of self-care. Jennie brought up a powerful reflection on how women tend to put everything and everyone else first, leaving no time for themselves to rest and recharge. Sleep becomes a casualty of this over-scheduling, contributing to burnout and emotional eating.
"We tend to fit it all in: our roles as professionals, parents, partners. Everything goes in the same pot, but we have to stop and say, ‘I need time for me.'" — Jennie Kramer
If you’re struggling with your relationship to food, consider how much sleep you’re getting. Sleep deprivation disrupts hunger signals, reduces patience, and leads to emotional eating. By prioritizing rest, you're investing in your overall well-being—mentally, physically, and emotionally.
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