Can’t Fall or Stay Asleep? Your Sleep Questions Answered
Mark Hyman
Apr 20, 2026
Episode description
Sleep is one of the most important and most overlooked drivers of your health. If you’re struggling to fall asleep, waking up at 2–4am, or getting a full night’s sleep but still feeling exhausted, your body is trying to tell you something.
Poor sleep isn’t just about habits, it’s a signal that key systems like your nervous system, blood sugar, hormones, or circadian rhythm are out of sync. In this episode, we break down what’s actually disrupting your sleep and how to fix it at the root.
Here’s what you’ll understand:
• Why sleep issues are rarely just one problem and how stress, blood sugar, and circadian rhythm all interact
• The real reasons you can’t fall asleep, wake up in the middle of the night, or feel tired despite 7–8 hours
• What actually helps (and what doesn’t)—from magnesium and melatonin to nervous system regulation
• The 5 core pillars of better sleep and the highest-impact changes you can start tonight
Sleep isn’t something you force, it’s something that happens when your body feels safe, balanced, and supported. When you address the root causes, better sleep becomes not just possible but predictable.
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(0:00) Sleep Quality vs. Duration and Introduction
(1:06) Common Causes of Poor Sleep
(6:53) Addressing Common Sleep Questions
(10:43) Evening Routines and Sleep Timing
(12:37) Metabolic, Hormonal, and Hidden Sleep Issues
(17:43) Recommendations for Deeper Sleep and Repair
(19:33) Supplements and Strategies for Better Sleep
(22:22) Key Takeaways and Quick Wins
(26:13) Conclusion, Listener Engagement, and Closing Remarks
Mindsip insights from this episode:
Manage night sweats by monitoring blood sugar levels
Night sweats can be a symptom of hypoglycemia (a blood sugar crash) in the middle of the night, which triggers a stress response from your body.
Recognize 2-4 AM wakefulness as metabolic or hormonal signal
Waking up between 2-4 AM is often a metabolic or hormonal signal, such as a blood sugar drop or cortisol spike, rather than a simple case of insomnia.
Utilize glycine to enhance sleep quality
The amino acid glycine can improve sleep quality by helping to lower your core body temperature, which signals your body to sleep more deeply.
Address low ferritin levels to combat insomnia
A ferritin (iron storage) level below 45 can be a hidden cause of insomnia, even though the standard medical 'normal' range goes much lower.
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