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The Real Reason You Wake Up at 3:00 AM

2026-02-21 Education
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Dr. Eric Berg DC
Dr. Eric Berg DC
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Description

The real reason you wake up at 3:00 AM every night is not an adrenal problem. If you’re struggling with insomnia and poor sleep quality, it’s vital to address the real root cause of your sleep problems. In this video, find out how to sleep better with my expert sleep tips so you can stop waking up in the middle of the night. Try my new castor oil here: 🛒 https://drbrg.co/4tKYHqQ Just so you know, my full line of high-quality supplements is available on Amazon — search Dr. Berg Supplements. Watch next to learn how TUDCA supports healthy bile flow: ▶️ https://youtu.be/boTzigj646Q Discover more on how to keep your liver healthy and your blood sugar levels in check: ▶️ https://youtu.be/DMcL6KiglvM ▶️ https://youtu.be/9Gzlmo0FGXU 👉 Get Dr. Berg’s Daily Routine as a free download: https://drbrg.co/4aXq7lU 0:00 Introduction: Why can't I sleep? 0:30 Why do I wake up at 3 AM every night? 1:12 Understanding sleep problems 4:45 Blood sugar swings and circadian rhythm explained 5:06 Cortisol spike at 3 AM 6:34 Sleep tips 8:20 The real reason you wake up at 3 AM 13:54 How to sleep better and stop waking up at 3 AM If you have a fatty liver, an inflamed liver, or cirrhosis, your liver won’t be able to properly fuel the brain at night. Insulin resistance is the most common reason the liver cannot supply the brain with glucose at night. If you have a liver problem, you’ll have massive blood sugar swings throughout the night. When insulin lowers this excess blood sugar, adrenaline quickly mobilizes stored sugar, which wakes you up. The first blood sugar swing is caused by cortisol, and often occurs between midnight and 1 AM. To fix this problem and allow cortisol to spike at the right time, morning sun exposure is vital. You should also begin turning down your inside lights about 3 hours before bed to avoid stimulating more cortisol. Darkness stimulates the production of melatonin, which helps you sleep. As we age, we lose sleep pressure. Try the following sleep tips to help restore this pressure: 1. Exercise regularly 2. Avoid stimulants 3. Take magnesium glycinate and zinc in the evening Insulin resistance is often the underlying cause of liver problems, but they can also be caused by consuming seed oils, sugar, and starch. A diet low in choline and sulfur, late-night snacking, and alcohol can also damage the liver. Some people have sleep problems when they start the keto diet while their brain adjusts from running on glucose to ketones. If this happens to you, try lowering your carbs more gradually. Try these simple sleep tips to sleep better and stop waking up at night: 1. Stop eating 4 hours before bed 2. Increase choline in the diet: egg yolks, liver, grass-fed meat, salmon, cruciferous vegetables 3. Increase sulfur in the diet: garlic, onion, cruciferous vegetables 4. Support gallbladder health: arugula, dandelion greens, bitter foods, TUDCA 5. Follow a low-carb diet 6. Lower blood sugar: low-carb, ACV, vitamin B1, magnesium, potassium, high-quality protein Dr. Eric Berg DC Bio: Dr. Berg, age 60, is a chiropractor who specializes in Healthy Ketosis & Intermittent Fasting. He is the Director of Dr. Berg Nutritionals and author of the best-selling book The Healthy Keto Plan. He no longer practices, but focuses on health education through social media. Follow Me On Social Media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Drberg/ YouTube Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@UCpWhiwlOPxOmwQu5xyjtLDw Keto Recipes: https://www.youtube.com/@drbergketorecipes Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drericberg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drericberg/ Spotify Podcast: 🎧 https://drbrg.co/DrBerg-Spotify TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drbergofficial X: https://x.com/dr_ericberg Disclaimer: Dr. Eric Berg received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1988. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Berg is a licensed chiropractor in Virginia, California, and Louisiana, but he no longer practices chiropractic in any state and does not see patients, so he can focus on educating people as a full-time activity, yet he maintains an active license. This video is for general informational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose, and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, cure, treatment, diagnosis, prescription, or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Berg and you. You should not make any change in your health regimen or diet before first consulting a physician and obtaining a medical exam, diagnosis, and recommendation. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. #health #keto #ketodiet #weightloss #ketolifestyle #intermittentfasting #lowcarb Thanks for watching! I hope this helps you improve your sleep quality and stop waking up at night. I’ll see you in the next video.

Top Comments (10)

@Drberg 2026-02-21

Just so you know, my full line of high-quality supplements is available on Amazon — search Dr. Berg Supplements.

203 20 replies
@22lilacsky 2026-05-05

Who is up at 3 am right now watching this? 😂🤣 😢 😭

430 49 replies
@timothybruce1775 2026-03-20

I’m literally watching this at 2:30am because I can’t sleep

836 73 replies
@kinflorida579 2026-04-08

I got up this morning at 2:30, I'm now watching this at 3:15 am. Thanks ❤

182 5 replies
@S-SeniorHealth 2026-03-18

Absolutely mind-blowing insight, Dr. Berg! 🤯 I’ve been struggling with that exact 3 AM wake-up call for months, and I always blamed my stress levels. Understanding the liver-brain connection and the role of Adrenaline is a total game-changer. I never connected my right shoulder tension to my liver before—it’s like you’re describing my life! Thank you for being brave enough to update your viewpoint based on new research. I’m starting the '4-hour pre-bed fast' tonight! Who else is tired of being wide awake at 3 AM? Let’s fix our livers together! 💤💪

95
@jesuslittlegirl2710 2026-02-21

MY MOTHER PASS AWAY ON MY BIRTHDAY JANUARY 29, 2026 THURSDAY, KEEP ME IN YOUR PRAYERS ALWAYS 🙏 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

996 138 replies
@joeriveracomedy 2026-02-22

This LITERALLY the only video on this subject that isn't a.i.

94
@jamiehonie4164 2026-02-21

I'm on carnivore because of fungal overgrowth. I tried magnesium, butter, salt and nothing helped. One night my mouth was extra dry before bed so I drank water until I had saliva in my mouth. I drank a little over 2 bottled water (16.9 oz bottle) and went to bed. I woke up once to pee but went right back to sleep right away. I also had deeper sleep than I normally have in years. Another thing I noticed that disappeared is my tinnitus. The only thing I changed is I drank more water an hour after dinner to bed time. I don't mind getting up to pee. I love how the body feels with deep sleep. Dehydration can cause Insulin Resistance.

79 5 replies
@teresasugden466 2026-02-27

Me waking at 3am? It's either another hot flash or my husband snoring. I usually just get up, get a cool glass of water, go to another bedroom and open the window. I then start thanking God for all my blessings and people in my life...then I sleep hard till 8am.

279 16 replies
@cliffchampion5501 2026-02-21

This happens to me almost every night

331 17 replies

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