Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSleep and DigestionLeft Side SleepSide SleepingBack Sleeping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Sleep and Digestion
Left Side Sleep
Side Sleeping
Back Sleeping
Adene Sanchez / Getty Images
How Sleep Affects Digestion
When digestion is working as it should, you barely notice it. But if you have any issues likeheartburnorconstipation, you’ll feel uncomfortable and possiblybloated.
Nutritional factors that may disrupt sleep include:
How Does Sleep Affect Health?Good quality sleep is essential for overall health. While you’re asleep, your body is repairing. Babies, young children, and teens need adequate sleep to support growth and brain development.Adultsneed a little less sleep (most need at least seven hours per night). Lack of sleep has been linked to a higher risk ofstroke,heart attack,diabetes, and more.
How Does Sleep Affect Health?
Good quality sleep is essential for overall health. While you’re asleep, your body is repairing. Babies, young children, and teens need adequate sleep to support growth and brain development.Adultsneed a little less sleep (most need at least seven hours per night). Lack of sleep has been linked to a higher risk ofstroke,heart attack,diabetes, and more.
The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Your Body and Health
Sleep on the Left Side
Sleeping on the left side separates food and acid from thelower esophageal sphincter, which means less acid will back up into the esophagus.
Sleeping on your left side may reduce the risk of heartburn and symptoms of indigestion.
Heartburn is common in people who arepregnant.If you’re pregnant, sleeping on your left side is recommended because it improvesblood flowandkidney functionand takes the pressure off your liver from the increasing weight of the uterus.
Side Sleeping Benefits
There are some benefits to sleeping on your side. Left-side sleeping is recommended for people who have heartburn due toacid refluxorgastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD).
Foods to Help You SleepSome foods and drinks that can help you sleep better include:Malted milkFatty fishNutsRiceKiwisTartcherriesand cherry juice
Foods to Help You Sleep
Some foods and drinks that can help you sleep better include:Malted milkFatty fishNutsRiceKiwisTartcherriesand cherry juice
Some foods and drinks that can help you sleep better include:
Avoid Back Sleeping
The old adage “back to sleep” really only applies to babies, to preventsudden infant death syndrome(SIDS). Most other people would benefit from side sleeping.
Additionally, if you havesleepapnea, a serious sleep condition that can affect your overall health, back sleeping may make it worse.
What to Do to Resolve a Lack of Deep Sleep
Summary
What you eat and drink can affect your digestion during sleep. Your sleep position can also affect your digestion, alleviating or exacerbating conditions like heartburn. Side sleeping, particularly on your left side, is recommended to improve heartburn. A person can make other simple changes, like avoiding eating before bed, that can help digestion.
A Word From Verywell
If you have any digestive issues that make sleep difficult, discuss sleeping strategies or treatment options with your healthcare provider. They will be able to make the best recommendations for your specific situation. Sometimes simple diet changes can be enough to improve sleep.
Frequently Asked QuestionsSleeping on your stomach isn’t recommended because it can cause pain in your neck. If you’re a stomach sleeper, try sleeping on your side for a more restful slumber.Organs on your left side include your heart, leftlung,pancreas,spleen, stomach, and left kidney. If you’re pregnant, sleeping on your left side is preferable because it improves blood flow and kidney function.How quickly food digests depends on what you’re eating and drinking. Whole, plant-based foods and water are easily and quickly digested, whereas proteins like eggs, meats, and cheeses will keep you feeling full longer and take longer to digest. Drinking plenty of water and getting regularexercisecan help move the waste products through your digestive system a little faster.You should try to stay upright after eating. Lying down soon after a meal can increase your risk of heartburn or acid reflux. Try sitting on a couch and leaning on a pillow instead of lying down if you’re very tired.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sleeping on your stomach isn’t recommended because it can cause pain in your neck. If you’re a stomach sleeper, try sleeping on your side for a more restful slumber.
Organs on your left side include your heart, leftlung,pancreas,spleen, stomach, and left kidney. If you’re pregnant, sleeping on your left side is preferable because it improves blood flow and kidney function.
How quickly food digests depends on what you’re eating and drinking. Whole, plant-based foods and water are easily and quickly digested, whereas proteins like eggs, meats, and cheeses will keep you feeling full longer and take longer to digest. Drinking plenty of water and getting regularexercisecan help move the waste products through your digestive system a little faster.
You should try to stay upright after eating. Lying down soon after a meal can increase your risk of heartburn or acid reflux. Try sitting on a couch and leaning on a pillow instead of lying down if you’re very tired.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Bowel transit time.Sleep Foundation.Nutrition and sleep.Canadian Society of Intestinal Research.Sleep.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How does sleep affect your heart health?.American Sleep Association.How to sleep with GERD.Canadian Society of Intestinal Research.Heartburn keeping you up at night? Try sleeping on your left side.National Health Service.Indigestion and heartburn in pregnancy.Nemours Children’s Health.Sleeping during pregnancy.Sleep Foundation.The best foods to help you sleep.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Choosing the best sleep position.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Bowel transit time.Sleep Foundation.Nutrition and sleep.Canadian Society of Intestinal Research.Sleep.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How does sleep affect your heart health?.American Sleep Association.How to sleep with GERD.Canadian Society of Intestinal Research.Heartburn keeping you up at night? Try sleeping on your left side.National Health Service.Indigestion and heartburn in pregnancy.Nemours Children’s Health.Sleeping during pregnancy.Sleep Foundation.The best foods to help you sleep.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Choosing the best sleep position.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Bowel transit time.Sleep Foundation.Nutrition and sleep.Canadian Society of Intestinal Research.Sleep.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How does sleep affect your heart health?.American Sleep Association.How to sleep with GERD.Canadian Society of Intestinal Research.Heartburn keeping you up at night? Try sleeping on your left side.National Health Service.Indigestion and heartburn in pregnancy.Nemours Children’s Health.Sleeping during pregnancy.Sleep Foundation.The best foods to help you sleep.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Choosing the best sleep position.
MedlinePlus.Bowel transit time.
Sleep Foundation.Nutrition and sleep.
Canadian Society of Intestinal Research.Sleep.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How does sleep affect your heart health?.
American Sleep Association.How to sleep with GERD.
Canadian Society of Intestinal Research.Heartburn keeping you up at night? Try sleeping on your left side.
National Health Service.Indigestion and heartburn in pregnancy.
Nemours Children’s Health.Sleeping during pregnancy.
Sleep Foundation.The best foods to help you sleep.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Choosing the best sleep position.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
