The Future of Health Is in Sleep—with Tara Youngblood of Chili Technology – EP125
Do you struggle to sleep through the night? How does that impact your health? Nighttime is when our bodies heal and recover. It’s when we flush out the stressors of the day. So, what can we do to enhance our natural sleep cycles and get the full benefit of a good night’s sleep?
Tara Youngblood is the Cofounder and Chief Scientist at Chili Technology, a company dedicated to the development of temperature-controlled sleep products. Since launching the ChiliPad in 2007, Tara has spent more than 10,000 hours studying the science of sleep. She authored the leading white paper exploring the benefits of cold therapy during sleep and is a highly-regarded international speaker on the topic. Tara leverages her background in physics and engineering to help shape the future of sleep-driven health, working to make sleep both easy and drug-free.
Today, Tara joins us to share the Chili Technology origin story and explain how the ChiliPad and OOLER products work. She explains the science behind core body temperature and quality sleep, citing Jerome Siegel’s research on hunter-gatherers, and walks us through the health benefits of using cold therapy while we sleep. Tara also discusses why the Chili team has elected not to make mattresses, pillows or cooling clothing, and she offers insight into the sleep cocoon she’s working on now. Listen in for Tara’s tips for getting optimal rest and learn why the future of health is in sleep!
Topics Covered
[2:00] How well Tara sleeps- Challenge with four boys, travel
- Track sleep to make best of situation
- Desire to be comfortable during sleep
- Different temperature than husband
- Use water to cool or heat
- Adjust temperature between 55° and 110°F
- ChiliPad functions as thermostat for bed
- Program OOLER to change temperature through night
- Many for structure of pad itself, how it functions
- Two for using temperature to enhance sleep cycles
- Light AND temperature have impact on sleep
- Circadian rhythms follow temperature profile
- Lifespan doesn’t match technology
- Pad allows for flexibility, individual preference
- Core body temp wants to drop 2° in middle of night
- Body gets hot, wake up (sign that something wrong)
- Overall healing effects
- Manage stress, oxygenate blood
- Improve metabolism + circulation
- Stress flushed out by sleep
- Autoimmune, chronic pain treatments at night
- Reducing EMFs in bed while sleep
- Protective cocoon as ideal space
- Europe and Australian markets
- Subtle bed size differences, cords
- Electronics tethered to body create EMF field
- Need power to cool core (portability challenge)
- Core body temperature controls sleep switch
- Want to push circulation back toward core
- Outside before 9am to trigger circadian rhythm
- Meditate + journal to manage stress
- Exercise and drink lots of water
- Eat two hours before bed
- Shut down electronics 30 minutes before bed
- Journey to better health starts with tiny habits
Learn More About Tara Youngblood
Discount Code ALIFITNESS25
Resources
Tara’s White Paper on Cold Therapy & Sleep
Clifford Saper’s Research on the Sleep Switch
Jerome Siegel’s Research on Hunter-Gatherer Sleep
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
James Clear on Ali Fitness EP097
