Biohacker explains why we wake up in middle of the night

The 'father of biohacking' claims to have solved the reason why we wake up between the hours of 3am and 5am before finding it incredibly difficult to nod back off before the alarm rings.

Falling asleep in the first place can be brutally difficult for some people, especially if they have a lot on their mind or are suffering from anxiety or other mental health issues.

It is why it's so frustrating that when you finally do nod off, you don't stay in slumberland until it is time for work, university, or whatever it is you have planned.

But Dave Asprey, an Instagram lifestyle influencer, claims to have cracked why we wake up and cannot get back to sleep.

The 51-year-old from New Mexico, USA, is the inventor of something called 'biohacking'; a term used by people who take a DIY approach to health, making changes to their body, diet, and lifestyle to improve their health, well-being, and lifespan.

Asprey, who has spent $2 million (£1.5 million) on trying to reverse his biological clock, is the creator of the controversial Bulletproof diet; a lifestyle which encourages a low carbohydrate intake while prioritising a high fat diet.

Despite some who take up the diet saying it has worked for them, Asprey holds no medical degree or nutritional training. The British Dietetic Association has even listed the Bulletproof diet as a fad diet.

Taking to social media, the biohacker now claims to know why we wake up in the middle of the night and an easy way to fix this.

"For most people who wake up between 3am to 5am and can't go back to sleep, that is a crash in your blood sugar," Asprey claims.

"Most people who wake up feeling that way - 'oh look, my blood sugar dropped' - and the body said oh I needed some glucose to power my brain to do its cleaning process at night."

Asprey says that your body will release the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline to trigger this extra boost of glucose during the night that you will store in your muscles and liver.

He added: "But the problem is, cortisol and adrenaline wake you up. While the brain gets what it wants, you don't get your sleep."

How to stop it? Well, Asprey says you should try having a small snack before you go to sleep. But not just any snack.

"Try raw honey, collagen, MCT oil, or mix all three together," he says.

MCT oil is a food supplement made up of something called triglycerides. This is a form of fat found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and some dairy products that is easier to digest than other fats.

There is some research out there that says raw honey and MCT oil can sustain energy levels in the body, and prevent blood sugar crashes, but the science is limited.