Eating Better to Sleep Better

Want to sleep better at night? Then eat better during the day!

Diet has a major impact on everything else. So, could it have an impact on your sleep?

Not surprisingly, the answer is yes. A new study has found that eating a diet high in fiber is associated with increased restorative sleep, including a significant increase in deep sleep and REM sleep and a significant decrease in light sleep. The high fiber diet also significantly reduced heart rate, which is important since, like the rest of you, your heart should catch up on its rest at night.

The study also found that a greater variety of plant-based foods and higher whole plant food intake was associated with lower sleeping heart rate.

A higher score on the Dietary Phytochemical Index, which measures calories from phytochemical-rich plant foods, was also associated with more restorative sleep, including significantly increased REM sleep, significantly decreased light sleep and significantly lower sleeping heart rate.

This study delivers the good news that you can improve your sleep, and the health benefits of sleep, by improving your diet. So, to sleep better, eat more fiber and more plant-based foods.

Nat. Health. 2026: doi.org/10.1038/s44360-026-00182-2

Stock up on fiber-rich produce, beans, and whole grains at Pilgrim’s Market.