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Sleep + Soda = Sleepy

A new study 1 shows that there is a correlation between sugar sweetened beverage consumption and less sleep.  Data from a population of 18,000 people was studied by the UCSF science team and found a correlation between sleep and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.  Basically those who consumed sweet sugared beverages slept five or fewer hours per night compared to those who consumed less sugar-sweetened sodas. Folks who slept well, seven to eight hours per night drank far less if any sugar sweetened drinks throughout the day.   Please note that the researchers are not yet clear which causes which –meaning that they are not sure consumption of caffeinated sugary beverages causes less sleep or if people who get poor sleep seek out a sugary beverage boost to fight daytime sleepiness.  And perhaps both could be true. but we can leave that to another future study.

Tip: So if you are one who does not get enough sleep and lean on the caffeinated sugar sweetened drinks during the day just try cutting back just to see if your sleep time increases… Happy ZZZ’s

  • [1]Prather, A.A., Leung, C.W., Adler, N.E., Ritchie, L.., Laraia, B.., & Epel, E.S. (2016, December). Short and sweet: Associations between self-reported sleep duration and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among adults in the United States. Sleep Health , 2(4), 272-276. doi:10.1016/j.sleh.2016.09.007. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352721816300870

SugarScience is the authoritative source for evidence-based, scientific information about sugar and its impact on health.

Mary C. Wiley, PsyD

Mary C. Wiley, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist practicing in the Bay Area for nearly 20 years. She works primarily with addiction and mood disorders utilizing evidence-based approaches (cognitive -behavioral approach and mindfulness) therapies.

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