The microbes in your body can affect your sleep, new research shows

CapeTalk's John Maytham is joined by Professor Lara Dugas, AXA Chair in Non-Communicable Diseases Epidemiology at the University of Cape Town's School of Public Health.

We hear over and over again about the importance of gut health because of its profound impact on our overall well-being and role as an indicator of our general health.

Now, researchers in the US are studying the link between the bacteria living in our gut and mouth, and sleep quality.

There are whole communities of bacteria, viruses and fungi that make up our body's microbiota which can influence our sleep,

And, depending on the composition of our personal microbial ecosystem, the amount of proper rest we get can either improve or deteriorate.

The BBC has published this quote from a board member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine:

"The predominant theory for a long time has been that having sleep disorders is disruptive to our microbiomes, but some of the evidence we're seeing now indicates that it's probably a relationship that goes in BOTH directions."

Prof. Jennifer Martin, Board Member - American Academy of Sleep Medicine

As Professor Lara Dugas from UCT's School of Public Health explains, it is critically important to have the right kind of bacteria in your gut, as of course not all bacteria are good for you.

"The reason there is this link between sleep and the gut microbiota is because anytime anything enters our gut, the bacteria are responsible for digesting the foods that WE can't digest - that is why they are actually commensal with us and we can't exist as humans without them."

Professor Lara Dugas. School of Public Health - UCT

"So, every time these bacteria digest something, they produce metabolites which get into your bloodstream. They cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and can signal just about every single physiological process in your body."

Professor Lara Dugas. School of Public Health - UCT

These 'good' bacteria really do take care of us, Prof. Dugas says.

The best route to ensure that your gut is colonised by healthy species as opposed to unhealthy ones, is through diet and specifically prebiotics, she goes on.

"There is a lot you can do by eating a very diverse diet, obviously very high in fibre, fruits and vegetables... Also take in a form of non-digestible fibre... You may have heard of psyllium husk which is a great prebiotic actually and not a probiotic."

Professor Lara Dugas. School of Public Health - UCT

"There's a lot of research that shows people who have diets that are high in these prebiotics or these fibres have very diverse and healthy bacteria in their gut."