When the liver can no longer regulate energy, the body has no choice but to wake you up to avoid a blood sugar crash.
Many of us experience nighttime awakenings on a more or less regular basis. If we often blame a busy day or a last coffee taken late, the repetition of these sleep interruptions sometimes hides a more serious reason for health. This phenomenon could actually be a signal of a dysfunctional liver. “You can live for years, even decades, without any symptoms, while suffering from a serious liver problem” warns Dr. Eric Berg, doctor and nutrition specialist.
In addition to filtering and storing nutrients, the liver plays a key role in regulating nighttime energy. During sleep, when we no longer eat, it takes over to maintain the body’s balance. Normally, “the liver releases stored glucose overnight to feed the brain, so everything works well and you can sleep”explains the expert on his Youtube channel. However, this management is derailed when the liver no longer does its job. “If the liver malfunctions, you will experience excessive fluctuations in your blood sugar” alert the doctor. Instead of stable diffusion, the liver produces too much sugar: blood sugar rises suddenly then falls too quickly, placing the body in a state of metabolic stress.
If the drop in sugar is too sudden, the brain panics and triggers a hormonal alert: it wakes you up. “Adrenaline, the stress hormone, will wake you up with a start between two and three in the morning”continues Dr. Berg. This link between liver and fragmented sleep is confirmed by a study published in the journal “Frontiers”. The researchers observed that “patients suffering from (hepatic steatosis) (accumulation of fat in the cells, editor’s note) had more nighttime awakenings” and reduced sleep efficiency. The data shows that these patients spend an average of 45.4 minutes awake after falling asleep, compared to just 21.3 minutes for people with healthy livers.
To take care of your liver, Dr. Berg first recommends a healthy diet. He advises cutting out refined sugar in favor of protein and protective vegetables like arugula or radish. “Many people feel better thanks to fermented vegetables and cruciferous vegetables”he emphasizes. These foods help stabilize nighttime blood sugar levels. Finally, remember that nocturnal awakenings can also result from sleep apnea or stress. A medical consultation remains essential to establish a complete diagnosis.
