Friday, September 23, 2016

Hey There Sleepy Head!

Did you know? Up until the 1950’s people thought of sleep as a passive, dormant part of our lives. We now know that sleep is an active period where important processing, restoration, and strengthening occurs.

There are several telltale signs of sleep deprivation including:
1. You’re Always Hungry

If the brain is not getting enough energy from sleep it will try to obtain it through food…most notably carbs (quickest energy source). Too much ghrelin due to lack of sleep causes the body to crave fatty sugary foods.

2. You’ve Gained Weight

Because of the imbalance of hormones (ghrelin and leptin) that come with sleep deprivation, willpower decreased when it comes to proper food choices. The brain subconsciously looks for foods that will quickly raise blood sugar and increase energy. Simple carbs (sweets or refined grains for example).

Without proper rest the metabolism starts to slow down over time as well. A study in 2012 in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that just 4 hours of sleep a night for 4 days straight can reduce fat cells’ ability to respond to insulin by 30%.


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