Your Brain on Poor Sleep: Memory Loss, Sugar Cravings & Emotional Instability | Dr. Matthew Walker

We all know sleep is important, but most of us don’t realize just how much it shapes our health-from metabolism and heart function to emotional well-being and even social connections. In this episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, I sit down with world-renowned sleep expert Matthew Walker, PhD, to uncover the science behind why sleep is one of the most powerful (and overlooked) tools for longevity.
In this fascinating conversation, we discuss:
Why Dr. Walker sees sleep as the foundation of good health and how it enhances the benefits of diet and exercise.
The dramatic effects of even mild sleep deprivation on cognitive function and emotional health.
How poor sleep can disrupt blood sugar regulation and increase the risk of chronic disease.
The science behind deep sleep and its role in memory, learning, and brain detoxification.
Simple, science-backed strategies to improve your sleep quality starting tonight.
If you’ve ever struggled with sleep-or just want to optimize your health-this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
View Show Notes From This Episode
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[@juhungshao9617]

Thank you for pointing out how sleep deprivation can effect on social life, made me cry actually. No one understands why i just want to be left alone alone and alone. My sleep has been better through dietary change. The road of recovery is long but i see hope after watching your interview 😊

[@HML-it7te]

Please expand further on your dietary change, cheers.

[@juhungshao9617]

@HML-it7te will do and ❤️

[@HML-it7te]

@@juhungshao9617 what I meant was what dietary change did you implement that gave you success? Cheers

[@juhungshao9617]

@@HML-it7te i try my best to follow keto-carnivore diet. I'd love to have a ketogenic therapy but it is not possible where i live. Before you want to start just make sure you know the differences between low carb, keto diet and ketogenic (diet) therapy and into a support group. Also as much information about health and ketogenic diet. Metabolic mind is a good start. Quitting processed food is for me a must. Exercise is great but hell how can i make it if i do not see a single soul when i am free. 2 1/2 years ago i fist started keto diet and after few months i could quite antidepresant. About 8 month ago i started keto carnivore diet. Now I am off all my med ( and believe me, i had heavy psychopharmaceuticals). I still have sleeping problem but it is manageable. I do not know how long the journey will last but i believe i will be able to sleep through the night one day. Good luck ❤️

[@juhungshao9617]

@@HML-it7te just sent you a long message but it disappeared after i post it. I hope you can see it. Otherwise tell me again and i can write it again.

[@karinlubitz6531]

Omg!…..my sleep and dreams are fabulous now….its been a big journey to get there…..love listening to this stuff!….i can also tap into a state of relaxed consciousness when the mind settles in a place between wakefulness and sleep….😊

[@Beajacks]

Dr Matt Walker, so interesting and a lovely guy. Thanks for having him on.

[@lauraquigley6403]

When my home was poisoning me I slept 2 hrs a night. Now I sleep between 6 & 7 hrs a night. I feel totally restored. Thanks for all your great information Dr!🙏🙏🙏Blessings

[@annabutler2198]

❤ I can relate. Happy for you!

[@paulaistrate4628]

what exactly you have found? I have bad sleep issues , thank you

[@TameraReynoldson]

One of your best videos ever! Brilliant guest and conversation. Thanks…

[@phongphung2545]

*I'm thrilled you created this!* It reminds me of my incredible journey from humble beginnings to achieving a comfortable life, earning a generous income of $89k biweekly, and a new chapter of financial freedom.

[@DianaEmily-o6v]

How were you able to do It?

[@DianaEmily-o6v]

Am a born Christian and sometimes I feel so down 😭 of myself because of low finance but I still believe God

[@phongphung2545]

its luck, it's me just being at the right place at the right time. I met a financial and trading consultant at a seminar back at Los Angeles later last year, where she was featured and interviewed and I reached out to her afterwards. Her name is Elizabeth Ann Hanson, I didn't know much about trading and investing so I spoke to her about it, she then later introduced me to her platform where I and other people could invest.

[@phongphung2545]

Elizabeth Ann Hanson's doing she's changed my life. A BROKER- like her is what you need.

[@LawrenceJoe-d7x]

Lovely! I enjoyed it like I enjoy a $100k monthly around the turn!!!

[@PinkShimmer74]

I personally am thankful God created our bodies to sleep. I love resting and sleeping after a busy day of work or on a day off. I get creative inspiration through dreams.

[@sydneyknutsen2492]

What an outstanding educational and overdue conversation! Thank u for some advanced understanding on the subject of sleep and the lack thereof and its impact on the physical and mental human body state.

[@goodnews3790]

Great video! And Dr. Walker I love the hair! You look great! 👌

[@stewiecountry]

I love, love, love Dr. Walker!

[@cubanstly]

Have you read his book?

[@ChrisDorpat]

This was great🙏🏼Would love a part 3!

[@wendylowe8975]

Sleep is VERY important

[@RedPilled100]

Just trying to sleep now glad watching this its 11:05 PM Fiji 🇫🇯 time

[@j.f.french3336]

Low levels of Magnesium .Had sleep problems this supplement cured me.

[@athinaeve4666]

The advent of electricity started the sleep deprivation issue and has been sped along with the advent of the internet. Fluoride in the water also interferes with melatonin which regulates the sleep cycle

[@KokoraLife]

Thanks for sharing this information! Very important.

[@lisav6583]

Schools start around 8:45 but the kids stay up until 2-4am because they are on their devices. Tech is great but let’s start putting them away around 8pm then bed at 10pm. Simple changes.

[@lwh5178]

Excellent podcast, thank you! 🙏

[@carolinecroft7029]

Excellent

[@HodgyHealthChannel]

I'm always pushing my loved ones to sleep as much as possible, its definitely a hard thing to sell

[@sarahjane4908]

My “loved ones” complain I sleep too much 😞

[@erinbrantley3206]

Love this thank you

[@Ali-uf5du]

I need slight sound when I sleep, but it has to be people talking. Like this podcast.

[@austing6149]

The sleep guy looks mythical with that haircut, like a unicorn or some sort of centaur!

[@renildasy5328]

❤thank you

[@12lovesinger]

I really have never understood how medical students, interns, residents and doctors handle the not sleeping part!!!😢

[@HML-it7te]

Yes. you wonder if fatigue, strange shifts, plenty blue and other light at night times how this influences their professional effectiveness.

[@sarahjane4908]

They make a lot of mistakes

[@nadiaazouz422]

Sorry I sleep 2 hrs but I am a very pleasant person I am always smiling and welcoming people with open arms . The last 15 years I did not have a dream not even once .i had so much health problems nothing solved I pay almost 800.00 a month for health insurance did I get anywhere with all my problems no nothing solved

[@cbak1819]

So true to anti social behavior without good sleep. And sleep procrastination.. 😊 I sleep much better in the summer, I wake up in the winter freezing if I drop temp. below 69. I live in a very cold house. Very dry. I have a heating mattress pad that helps. I have tried it all, seldom do I sleep more than 5 hours now in my late 50's. I am a very brain awake person. I will try the shower before bed, but in my past showers wake me up not sedate me. Q? What about the amount of food eaten per day. After Lyme exposure and SB's my sleep time really plummeted. I can't eat enough and my weight is not coming back after 9 months. But I have never slept well.

[@RedPilled100]

Sleep circadian rhythm ❤

[@ABDULRAHMAN-pu2lo]

Dimmers/and or Reostats (I. e. Variable switches for fans), have high EMFs.

[@nicoleblake9266]

It's 2:08am, and I can't sleep. Lol. No joke, tho. I have a really hard time falling asleep. I've been recently diagnosed as having sleep apnea. The best time for me to sleep is from about 3am-11am or noon. I call it my sweet spot. The problem is, is that I'm in bed by 8 or 9 pm, and there are several days each week I need to be up by 6am. I do go sum days without being able to sleep at all. I really need help.

[@bchristine58]

Interesting podcast, but SmartBeds? What about the EMF's-WiFi with those? From my research, EMF's and WiFi have a lot to do with sleep. And no mention of Magnesium Glycinate? MANY studies on this form for relaxation and sleep. Magnesium Oxide is one of the cheapest forms ... not easily absorbed and hard on the gut.

[@asweetiepiebtw2032]

three am up watching this. some hair.

[@sarahjane4908]

5 AM for me… shift work 😞

[@DoubleX77]

Low dose naltrexone helped me sleep all night but I had an undesirable side effect and had to discontinue. I feel horrible if I don’t get 8-9 hours of sleep per night .

[@karenharrison-elrod1797]

The truth about sleep HOWEVER it's design comes from our CREATOR not some spasm in the cosmos checking out now. I choose to affirm truth with truth not lies

[@Mr.Keepaway]

Who knew Bruce Dickinson is such an expert on sleep…

[@Callitout-kl1uq]

He is great but he has never shared how to get better deep sleep, which is the most important type

[@Foosh-ok3dc]

Hi Mark. I have had Ulcerative Colitis for two years now. I've struggled with weight gain and low levels on energy. I have tried kefir, Colostrum, Carnivore diet (3 months), vitamins, various probiotics, SIBO diet (6 weeks), butyrate tablets and cod liver oil. I did try a diet with a focus on eating vegetables with meat but I didn't handle the fiber very well so I gave up within two weeks. I was wondering if you could offer me any advice on what I should do. What testing would you recommend? How long would would you persist with a mostly vegetarian diet and how would I begin? Or do you recommend a different diet? I have been having sourdough in my diet to help maintain/gain weight. Is this bad for UC?

[@annabutler2198]

Maybe look into the Gaps diet

[@goodnews3790]

Have you removed gluten, dairy, legumes, grains, vegetable oils simultaneously for at least 6 weeks? Having to empty my bowels for my colonoscopy really helped with flare ups, and enemas once a month. Coconut milk yogurt, magnesium glycinate and glutathione also helped.

[@sarahjane4908]

You need to see a doctor

[@arlene-c2h]

❤❤

[@ABDULRAHMAN-pu2lo]

Turn off the WIFI

[@N30HuM4n]

59:48 Is he talking about Senator Corey Booker? I hope not

[@nadiaazouz422]

I sleep 2 or 3 hours and if I take sleeping pill maybe 4 to 5 hours max I have so much health problems and nothing is solved😢

[@paulaistrate4628]

❤ exactly same, 2-3 years since my sleep issues started and I feel destroyed, have also autoimune issues and recently discovered I have 3 heart leaking valves..

[@ABDULRAHMAN-pu2lo]

Led lights suck

[@YakoobYasseen]

👍🇿🇦

[@MrHereugo]

Omg, what happened to his hair?? I saw him with short hair a few years ago!

[@faithandgrace8244]

Yes, it's distracting. Makes it hard to take him seriously.

[@ABDULRAHMAN-pu2lo]

Disconnect all 'smart' appliances and all other wireless devices.

[@ABDULRAHMAN-pu2lo]

Replace smart meeters with analog meeters

[@landynsasmrchannel8334]

That's what sleep will do for ya 😂

[@landynsasmrchannel8334]

I love it he's got great hair!

[@rmh691]

Dr. Hyman just never looks well

[@damselflymoldavite8145]

There wasn't one single helpful thing here that was new to me

[@PipleZiple]

Are they transitioning?!?!

[@ABDULRAHMAN-pu2lo]

Did u forget about God!?

[@donhuml8817]

God won't save you from yourself.

[@ABDULRAHMAN-pu2lo]

@donhuml8817 if He chooses; He can but we must try our best

[@Theeezfoo77]

What in the male ponytail??😮

[@PipleZiple]

Plus those side bang things 😮. Very brave.

[@erinbrantley3206]

That what said why has a ponytail, okay, I care more about other things than what he looks like trying to get sleep in my health

[@goodnews3790]

He looks great, I love it!

[@5ivepoints18]

Dolphins didn't "have to figure out" how to sleep w/ half of their brain awake....God made them that way! Just like God made us need rest & it turns out we now know that it's good for our health! Who would've imagined that science and God would align???

[@aaronsmith1861]

Time for a different hairstyle. Freaky, and distracting. Sorry, just had to say it 😢

[@Lino-d4c]

This doctor looks like our closes ancestors, Neanderthals. Not saying that to be rude

[@perry900]

Some of what you say is informative, but when you get into evolution you are foolish. We were wonderfully created by a creator. The fool has said in his heart there is no God. To know him you need Jesus. We were created in his image. Dolphins weren't.