Irregular sleep schedules might harm our health. According to a study in The European Journal of Nutrition, sleeping at different times could increase harmful bacteria in our stomach. Different sleeping times disrupt our internal body clock, which researchers refer to as "social jet lag". This leads to consuming more sugary snacks and having a less healthy diet. The study also mentioned that social jet lag can encourage the growth of bacteria that are bad for our health.
The effects of social jet lag resemble those of regular jet lag. People often eat unhealthy food after a long flight across different time zones. However, social jet lag is more concerning because it's a part of our daily routines. It can raise the risk of heart problems and weight gain. Even a 90-minute difference between sleep and wake times can disturb the body's natural rhythms. Thankfully, adjusting sleep patterns is simple and could benefit our health.