India, Jan. 11 -- Good sleep is one of the primary needs of the human body, alongside nutritious food and exercise, to maintain good health. Often, we come across influencers and health experts on social media platforms claiming that they work around the clock, sparing very little time for sleep.

Such claims can come across as baffling, and rightfully so, according to American board-certified gastroenterologist Dr Palaniappan Manickam. Taking to Instagram on January 8, Dr Manickam explained the importance of sleep in overall as well as gut health, and three steps to follow to improve our sleep quality.

"Sleep isn't optional. It's where your gut repairs, hormones reset, and metabolism actually heals," he wrote in the caption. "Fix your s...