Chronobiology: Proper Feeding to Sleep Cycles

Abstract

Chronobiology is the process that studies the biological rhythms of living beings, in which each organism has its own biological clock. Sleep is a state of unconsciousness, characterized by the active inhibitory process, and that has an important relationship with feeding, mainly due to the possibility of sleep privation increasing starvation through hormonal regulation. In addition, starvation can lead to obesity, contributing to the risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases, such as high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and some forms of cancer. The cycle of bad sleep may cause direct health problems, such as the diseases mentioned above; and indirect, may result in traffic accidents, unemployment, and difficulties in interpersonal relationships, with the possibility of progressing to anxiety disorders. This study aims to analyze whether there is a relationship between healthy eating and the standard of sleep quality, providing better performance of daily activities. For this study, the 133 participants answered 3 feeding records and, later, questionnaires on sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) in three moments. Considering the three questionnaires, there were no significant differences obtained by calculating the statistical tests, however, the analysis of the gross medians with the proposed score showed a strict relationship between sleep and food. In addition to the relationship between food and sleep quality, other factors such as stress and anxiety can contribute to hormonal dysregulation, thus changing the pattern of sleep quality of individuals.