Peat Archive

Ray Peat viewed sleep problems as primarily metabolic rather than psychological. He argued that insomnia, night waking, and unrefreshing sleep are usually caused by nocturnal stress hormone surges — cortisol and adrenaline released when blood sugar drops during the night. This perspective leads to very different recommendations than standard sleep hygiene advice.

Peat recommended eating a small snack before bed (sugar + protein, like milk with honey, or orange juice with gelatin), ensuring adequate thyroid function, and addressing progesterone deficiency (progesterone has sedative properties through its metabolite allopregnanolone). He also recommended warm environments for sleep, noting that cold promotes stress hormone release, and adequate salt intake to support blood volume and prevent nighttime adrenaline surges.