Hi Larry-

Thanks for your post! You say your sleep is interrupted by digestion problems–Are you waking hungry? Stomach upset? Needing to use the restroom? Discomfort?

If you are eating too much sugar, which it sounds like when you say that you “rely” on cherries and cherry pie 🙂 this can certainly impact sleep. While you may be able to fall asleep initially after you’ve allowed the initial “sugar spike” to occur, you can be awakened in the middle of the night when your blood sugar has subsequently fallen too low (due to the normal insulin response to sugar).

If you have physical cravings for sugary foods (like pie), make sure you are getting adequate protein and healthy fats regularly throughout the day (every few hours), plenty of fresh vegetables and low-sugar (preferably in-season) fruits, and plenty of filtered water. Naturally sweet teas such as cinnamon, vanilla, licorice (don’t use licorice if you have high blood pressure), fennel, and orange are a great alternative to desserts. When you do decide to have a dessert (which should be occasional to avoid being over-reliant on the taste of sweet), try one of the great recipes here under “Feed My Brain” or use fresh fruit in combination with some sprouted/raw nuts/seeds for less of a blood sugar impact, such as sliced green apple with almond butter or baked pear with cinnamon and crushed walnuts. 

On an emotional level, emotional cravings for sugars can mean we are needing something comforting or exciting, like more social connection, creativity, or fun. It may be a good time to assess the balance in your life between biological (nutrition, supplements, sleep, exercise), psychological (emotional health and mindset), social (relationships, co-workers, family, friends, community), and spiritual (meditation, prayer, creativity, productivity) health.

Here are a few general suggestions for experiencing peaceful gastrointestinal health during sleep: 

• Allow 2-3 hours of no eating prior to sleep
• Avoid stimulants like caffeine, sugar, and processed foods
• Avoid food allergens or sensitivities you have (some of the most common are sugar, wheat, corn, soy, eggs, and dairy)
• Get regular exercise early in the day
• Manage stress

I know that was a bit long-winded, but hopefully, I hit on some aspect that makes sense for you!

Best!

Zoe