Ultra-processed foods may be linked to insomnia, affecting about one-third of adults, according to a recent study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The research found a significant connection between ultra-processed food consumption and chronic insomnia, regardless of sociodemographic factors, lifestyle, diet quality, and mental health.

Lead investigator Marie-Pierre St-Onge highlighted the importance of evaluating diet’s role in sleep quality, especially as processed food consumption and sleep disturbances rise.

The cross-sectional study analyzed data from about 39,000 French adults in the NutriNet-Santé cohort, using dietary records and insomnia symptom reports from 2013 to 2015. Insomnia was defined according to DSM-5 and ICSD-3 criteria. Results showed that participants with chronic insomnia consumed more ultra-processed food, with a slightly higher risk in males.

Of the cohort studied, approximately 20% reported chronic insomnia. On average, ultra-processed foods made up 16% of their daily diet. The study found that a 10% increase in ultra-processed food intake was linked to a 6% higher risk of chronic insomnia. For men, the risk increased by 9%, and for women, it increased by 5%.

While the causes of chronic insomnia is multifactorial, the study highlighted the importance of healthy eating and its effect on sleep. So if you are experiencing insomnia, one of the most easily changeable factors you can do right now and forever is choosing to eat healthy.

P Duquenne et al. The association between ultra-processed food consumption and chronic insomnia in the NutriNet-Santé Study. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2024.02.015