Long-sleepers rejoice; it is scientifically proven that sleeping more can help you stay slim, healthy and maintain a good eating habit!
"If you are sleep-deprived, meaning that you are not getting enough minutes of sleep or good quality sleep, your metabolism will not function properly," shares Doctor Michael Breus, the clinical director of the specialised sleep division for Arrowhead Health Center in Arizona.
That just proves that the recommended 7 hours of sleep is not simply about relaxation. As we sleep, the maintenance of a variety of neurochemical and hormonological processes take place in our body. It is noted that the lack of sleep can affect and disturb those hormonal and chemical balances. More specifically, it may reduce the levels of your Leptin (a master hormone that controls hunger and appetite), which subsequently results in you having more hunger pangs.
To exemplify, let's take a look in a study by a Columbia University in 2011. The research was aimed to test whether there is a correlation between sleep and eating habits.
A group of 13 men and 13 women were required to stay in a controlled environment for six days on two different situations – the first situation being that they were requested to sleep for nine hours, while the second situation was that they can only have four hours of bedtime. On both situations, the group would all be on the same diet for the first four days, but can eat anything they wanted on the fifth day.
Upon observation and analysis, it was found that those who were sleep-deprived gobbled down about 300 calories more than when they are well rested. Most of those extra calories came from food that contain fat, especially saturated fat. The research results therefore demonstrate a clear link between sleep and human food consumption.
Here's another way to view the matter – when you're feeling sleepy while doing work, aren't you tempted to reach for a cup of coffee or some munchies to help keep you up? In addition to that, it is also logical that the less we sleep, the more energy is needed for the body to function and perform tasks. Makes sense, right?
So ladies, don't feel too bad if you're one of those who need long hours of proper sleep. And to those who wish to pull an all-nighter, perhaps a second thought should come to mind.
Sources: Dailymail, WebMd
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