Sleep
205 sourcesRay 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.
Key Positions
- Night waking is often caused by blood sugar drops triggering cortisol and adrenaline release
- A bedtime snack (sugar + protein) prevents nocturnal hypoglycemia
- Progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone is a potent natural sedative acting on GABA receptors
- Hypothyroidism disrupts sleep architecture and causes night sweats
- Glycine (from gelatin) improves sleep quality through its calming effects
- Cold sleeping environments promote stress hormone release
- Melatonin is overused — it can suppress thyroid function and promote inflammation