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 October 24, 2025
In this bulletin...
By Zina Stone October 24, 2025
Ingredients 700 g grass-fed beef strips (sirloin, flank, or rump steak) 4 large portobello mushrooms (approx. 400 g total) 8 medium carrots, peeled and halved lengthwise (about 600 g) 2 bunches broccolini (approx. 400 g) 6½ tbsp olive oil total (≈ 97 mL) (2 tbsp for beef + 2 tbsp for mushrooms + 1½ tbsp for carrots + 1 tbsp for broccolini) 1 tbsp butter (14 g) 2 cloves garlic, minced (6 g) 1 tbsp fresh rosemary or thyme, chopped (optional) 2 tsp salt total (≈ 12 g) (½ tsp for beef + ½ tsp for mushrooms + ½ tsp for carrots + ½ tsp for broccolini) 1¼ tsp black pepper total (≈ 5 g) 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar (optional, 15 mL) 1 tsp honey or maple syrup (optional, 7 g) Instructions 1. Roast the carrots and mushrooms Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) . Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Toss carrots with olive oil, salt, pepper, and honey/maple syrup if using. Spread on half of the tray. Place the portobello mushrooms on the other half, drizzle with olive oil and balsamic (if using), and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 25–30 minutes , turning once halfway through. Mushrooms should be tender and juicy; carrots caramelized and golden. 2. Grill the beef While vegetables roast, heat a grill pan or barbecue over high heat . Toss beef strips with olive oil, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper. Grill for 2–3 minutes per side , or until cooked to your liking (medium-rare to medium recommended). Rest for a few minutes before serving to keep tender and juicy. 3. Steam and fry the broccolini Bring a small pot of water to a boil, and lightly steam broccolini for 2–3 minutes until bright green. Drain well. Heat butter and olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat . Add the broccolini and sauté for 2–3 minutes , seasoning with salt and pepper until slightly crisp on the edges. 4. Serve Plate each portion with a serving of grilled beef strips, a whole roasted mushroom, a few roasted carrots, and a generous side of buttery broccolini. Drizzle any beef or mushroom juices over the top for extra flavor. Optional Garnish Sprinkle with fresh parsley or thyme before serving. Add a squeeze of lemon over the broccolini for brightness. Nutrition and Cooking Times Serves: 4 | Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 30–35 minutes Nutrient Value per serve: Calories: 480kcal | Protein: 39g | Fat: 28g | Carbohydrates: 15g
By Zina Stone October 24, 2025
In this bulletin...