Struggling with sleepless nights? New study suggests ultra-processed foods might be culprit

Additives like preservatives and sweeteners in UPFs have long been linked to health issues such as heart disease and diabetes.

Are those late-night snacks keeping you up at night? It might not just be the calories. Recent research suggests that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) could be contributing to your restless nights.

Consider a cob of corn compared to a packet of chips. The corn, harvested from the field, is cleaned and either canned or frozen before landing on your plate. In contrast, making potato chips involves a lengthy process: harvesting, peeling, slicing, blanching, dewatering, frying, deoiling, seasoning, and bagging. It's clear which one is an "ultra-processed" food.

While food processing itself isn’t inherently bad, excessive modification to enhance taste or shelf life often strips foods of essential nutrients and fibres. Additives like preservatives and sweeteners in UPFs have long been linked to health issues such as heart disease and diabetes. Now, a new study suggests they might also play a role in chronic insomnia.

Researchers in France studied 38,570 adults, analysing their dietary habits and sleep patterns. They found a significant link between high UPF consumption and increased risk of chronic insomnia, even after considering sociodemographic, lifestyle, diet quality, and mental health factors.

Among participants who derived 16% of their daily energy from UPFs, 19.4% reported chronic insomnia symptoms. Interestingly, the association appeared slightly stronger in men.

The exact mechanisms behind UPF-induced insomnia remain unclear, but researchers have some theories. Processed foods often have higher calorie content, potentially leading to weight gain. A higher body mass index is consistently linked to sleep disorders, including difficulty falling and staying asleep. However, more research is needed to definitively understand how these foods impact sleep quality.

Previous studies have shown that the Mediterranean diet, considered by many as the healthiest diet in the world, is associated with a lower risk of insomnia. This new research may be highlighting the opposite effect of a diet high in UPFs.

As our diets increasingly include more ultra-processed foods, understanding their impact on sleep is crucial. The Indian Council of Medical Research has recently updated dietary guidelines to help decide daily intake. Meanwhile, it's wise to skip the midnight binge and opt for healthier alternatives.