Research has shown that children who go to bed earlier have a greater diversity of beneficial gut bacteria and lower amounts of harmful microbes. A study conducted on 88 healthy children aged 2 to 14 found that those who went to bed before 9:30 p.m. had high levels of beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia muciniphila and Firmicutes. These bacteria are important for overall health and can affect the risk of diseases like obesity and diabetes. The study also found that certain gut bacteria were associated with sleep patterns, highlighting the importance of sufficient sleep for healthy cognitive and physical development in children. The findings suggest that maintaining a consistent sleep schedule can have significant benefits for gut health and overall well-being.
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