February 17, 2022

Alcohol & Sleep

Bulletin Health Topic - 112


Alcohol is a sedative that many people take to enable them to fall asleep quicker. The problem is it has a major impact on the quality of our sleep. Alcohol will make you lose consciousness quicker, but we shouldn’t confuse consciousness with sleep. Losing consciousness from alcohol is like being knocked out. You don't get the restorative nature of sleeping.


There are many physiological affects of consuming alcohol before sleep.

  • resting heart rate goes up
  • compressed heart rate variability
  • respiratory breathing rate increases
  • body temperature increases


For restorative sleep, we need our heart rate and body temperature to decrease.


Alcohol blocks our R.E.M sleep cycle, so you end up with a night of light sleep. This is due to a by-product made from an alcohol called aldehydes.


Aldehydes will block the brains ability to generate R.E.M sleep. We end up waking many times throughout the night, often so brief we don't remember.


Sleep is critical to the function of the brain's waste removal system (Glymphatic system), the deeper the sleep the better. 


It’s when we have disrupted sleep that beta analyoid plaque builds in the brain. This can lead to Alzheimers and premature aging.


A single drink 4- 5hrs before bedtime seems to have minimal effect.


It’s when we have 2-3 drinks close to bedtime things start to decline.


By Zina Stone March 5, 2026
Ingredients 250 g fresh sardines, cleaned and patted dry 1–2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil Sea salt, to taste Freshly cracked black pepper Instructions Step 1 - Heat the pan Place a non-stick or stainless-steel pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and allow it to warm (not smoke). Step 2 - Cook the sardines Lay the sardines gently into the pan in a single layer. Cook for 2–3 minutes per side, until the skin turns lightly golden and releases easily from the pan. Step 3 - Season simply Sprinkle with sea salt and cracked black pepper while cooking or just after removing from the pan. Step 4 - Serve immediately Transfer to a plate and enjoy warm. Optional: If you're not doing an offical sardine fast, a great addition is to serve with fresh lemon with added chilli and parsley flakes. Nutrition and Cooking Times | Cook time: 5-7 minutes Serves: 1-2 Nutrient Value (per serving): Calories: 520cal | Protein: 62g | Fat: 38g | Carbohydrates: 0g |
By Zina Stone February 26, 2026
Ingredients 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized cubes 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil, divided ½ medium yellow onion, diced 1 medium red bell pepper, diced 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 (15-ounce) fire-roasted diced tomatoes 1 (14-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1 (12-ounce) bag frozen cauliflower florets 2 tablespoons curry powder ½ teaspoon ground turmeric ¼ teaspoon dried ginger (or 1 teaspoon fresh peeled ginger, grated or finely minced) ½ teaspoon fine salt Pinch of black pepper 2 large handfuls fresh baby spinach (about 3 ounces) Optional For Serving: Chopped fresh cilantro, steamed rice, and lime wedges Instructions Step 1 Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 teaspoons of oil and swirl to coat. Add the chicken and cook, 5-6 minutes, until almost cooked through, stirring occasionally. Step 2 Remove the chicken to a clean plate and set aside. Step 3 To the pan, add the remaining 1 teaspoon of oil to the skillet and swirl to coat. Add the onions and peppers and cook for 5 minutes or until the onions start to soften, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and continue cooking for 1 minute or until fragrant. Step 4 Add the cooked chicken back to the pan along with the tomatoes (and their juice), coconut milk, drained chickpeas, frozen cauliflower, curry powder, turmeric, ginger, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Bring just to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring once or twice. Step 5 Remove the lid from the skillet and add the spinach. Stir and allow the spinach to wilt, 2-3 minutes, then serve over steamed rice with chopped cilantro and lime wedges. Nutrition and Cooking Times Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 20minutes Serves: 4 Nutrient Value (per serving): Calories: 375cal | Protein: 26g | Fat: 17g | Carbohydrates: 29g |
By Zina Stone February 25, 2026
Barbell & Trap Bar Training