Day 6 – Sleep for Your Gut

The Sleep Connection – Rest Powers Your Gut

You know sleep makes you feel good, but here’s the kicker—it’s a gut health MVP too. A well-rested gut is a happy gut, ready to deliver the energy, clarity, or comfort you’re chasing.

When Erika rebuilt her health, it wasn’t just food and movement—sleep played a quiet, crucial role.

Skimp on it, and your gut takes a hit.

Day 6’s about tapping into that power. Rest isn’t a luxury—it’s fuel for your gut’s engine. Let’s dig in.

How Sleep Heals Your Gut

Your gut doesn’t clock out when you do—it uses sleep to recharge. Here’s what happens

• 🛌 Balances Your Microbiome
  Sleep keeps your good bacteria in check. Skip it, and the bad guys gain ground, throwing off diversity.
• 🧵 Repairs the Lining
  Overnight, your gut patches itself up—fixing leaks and calming inflammation. Less rest means less recovery.
• 😴 Dials Down Stress
  Sleep cuts cortisol, that stress hormone that messes with your gut’s rhythm. A rested gut handles life better.

Erika’s crash and my depression taught taught us this: a tired body means a tired gut.

Give it rest, and it pays you back big time.

Sleep Smart – Small Tweaks, Big Wins

You don’t need a perfect sleep schedule—just better habits. Try these:
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1. Dim the Lights: Cut blue light (phone, TV) an hour before bed—your gut-brain axis will thank you.
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2. Set a Wind-Down: Sip water or stretch for 5 minutes to signal “rest time.”
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3. Keep It Steady: Aim for the same bedtime, even if it’s off by an hour. Consistency helps.

No need to overhaul your life—small shifts get your gut the rest it craves. Erika found her groove with simple routines, and you can too.

📝 Home work – Day 6: It’s Time to Wind Down

Let’s ease into it. Pick one tonight:

• Skip screens 30 minutes before bed (read or chill instead).
• Do a 5-minute stretch — nothing intense, just relax.
• Set a rough bedtime and stick to it.
• Try Open Meditation App – 30 days free. It’s absolutely amazing. https://o-p-e-n.com/referral/v2XOphE7nXfNxWYg86Wc7TXMJPm1

After, add it to your gut snapshot tomorrow. Sleep better? Feel steadier? Pair it with your fiber or movement wins—this is Day 6’s layer, building your gut’s strength one night at a time.

🔬 Science Snapshot – The Evidence

This is real stuff. Sleep loss disrupts microbiome diversity (Benedict et al., 2016). It weakens your gut lining, spiking inflammation (Voigt et al., 2016). Better rest cuts stress and boosts gut function (Smith et al., 2020). More in the appendix—sleep’s your gut’s silent partner.