Think about
how good you feel after a complete night’s sleep - well relaxed, more alert, in
a much better mood and able to face the day. Here’s an additional to getting
sufficient regular, good sleep: It regulates metabolic process and can help you
lose weight.
Did you know
that research has brought to light that weight loss and extra weight are
related to the amount of sleep 1 gets?
Sleep regulates the metabolic process
In a
research conducted by Mayo Clinic professor of medicine and heart problems Dr.
Virend Somers and his colleagues, it was discovered that sleep is an important
regulator of metabolism and energy expenditure. When you are sleep-deprived,
hormones which regulate metabolism and improve hunger are affected, stimulating
an increase in eating calories. The likely effect is weight gain.
Good sleep can curb cravings
In another
research, researchers from St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital and also Columbia
University in New York shed some light on the link between our length and phase
of sleep, and hunger and weight gain. They discovered that the length of time
we sleep is essential, but sleep composition - the time and percentage of
overall sleep spent in every stage - is associated with decreased metabolic
rate, improved hunger as well as increased the consumption of calories,
specially from fat and carbohydrates, which can, in turn, lead to weight gain.
Sleep is a prescription for weight loss
Conversely,
maintaining a regular sleep schedule (an average of 8 hrs per night) assists
control your body’s metabolism and reduces the desire to overeat. The link
between sleep and obesity has led many doctors, such as those in the Canadian
Obesity Network, to include more sleep as part their recommended weightloss
program.
Doctors
Jean-Philippe Chaput at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Study
Institute and Angelo Tremblay of Laval University are quoted in the Canadian
Medical Association Journal, as stating, "The solution to weight loss is
not really as easy as 'eat less, move more, sleep more'. … However, an
accumulating body of proof shows that sleeping habits should not be overlooked
when prescribing a weight-reduction program to a patient with obesity."
Add sleep to your weight loss program
Now, that you
have some knowing about the relationship between sleep, hunger and weight gain,
here are a few things you can do to assist ensure you sleep better and maybe
lose a few pounds in the process.
- Don’t
consume a lot of caffeine, especially in the evening.
- Ensure you
are exercising enough, especially out side, to assist alleviate some of that
stress and tension.
- Do not take
medication that may impact the quality and duration of your sleep.
- Stay away
from watching TV or using the pc late during the night and too close to
bedtime.
- If there’s something mainly stressful happening in your life that is causing worry and anxiety, speak to someone regarding it and add some stress-reducing activities to your day such as yoga or meditation.