SLEEP MINERAL #1: POTASSIUM GLUCONATE
Fifteen years ago, there was a groundbreaking sleep discovery thanks to an odd mutant fly.
Circadian rhythm expert, Dr. Ravi Allada from Northwestern University, discovered that the body's circadian clock’s mechanism is like a light switch controlled by two key minerals.
Allada and his research team found that during the day, high sodium channel activity in neurons awakens an animal. At night, high potassium channel activity quiets down the neurons which helps the animals sleep. The discovery revealed balance between sodium and potassium currents controls the animal’s circadian rhythms.
You’re not a fly, but humans have similar proteins as flies, especially when it comes to potassium and sodium balance in our neurons. Since then, clinical studies have confirmed that potassium supplementation improves sleep quality in healthy people [11].
Now virtually everyone has a major imbalance of potassium to sodium in their body. The optimal ratio of potassium to sodium is 3 to 1. The average person consumes 3-5 grams of sodium a day from salt and only 2-3 grams of potassium when you should be getting 4.7 grams as a bare minimum. The point is that people are deficient in potassium which is negatively impacting their sleep quality.
By taking the right dose of potassium before bed you’ll notice your heart rate slowing down. You’ll notice your nervous system calms down. Ask anyone who’s tracking their sleep scores and they will tell you that their best sleep happens when their heart rate is slower.
If you’ve occasionally been waking up at night and struggling to fall back asleep, chances are you have a potassium deficiency.
According to a 1991 study in the Journal of Sleep, potassium has a direct effect on the deepest phase of sleep (which had the most rejuvenation benefits). And potassium deficiency can cause you to wake up mid-sleep. Plus, potassium works synergistically with magnesium, so taking both of these together will have a significant improvement in your sleep quality.