Have you ever wondered why a bad night’s sleep sees you reaching for the caffeine and sugar the following day?
Sleep deprivation
A new study, led by San Francisco scientists confirms that people who sleep five or fewer hours a night are likely to also drink significantly more sugary caffeinated drinks, such as sodas and energy drinks.
Is it sleep deprivation that encourages consumption of sugar and caffeine to stay awake or is it drinking these drinks that causes people to sleep less; previous research suggest both could be true.
Unsurprisingly, lack of sleep also has a significant role in encouraging weight gain. Research shows that it can play havoc with the appetite regulating hormones, Leptin and Ghrelin.
Leptin is your “full” hormone and during sleep, leptin levels rise, telling your brain that you have enough energy to satisfy your requirements and there is no need to burn additional calories. When you don’t get enough sleep, Leptin levels are low and messages that encourage hunger are sent from the brain; urging you to consume more calories. Regularly low Leptin levels result in a constant feeling of hunger and low levels of energy, which will encourage weight gain.
Ghrelin, on the other hand, has an opposite effect, telling your brain that you are hungry. During sleep, the levels of Ghrelin naturally drop as your body tells your brain it does not need as much energy and therefore it does not need extra calories. However, when you don’t sleep enough, you end up with too much ghrelin in the system, so your body thinks it’s hungry and needs more calories. It therefore stops burning those calories thinking there is a shortage; again encouraging weight gain.
Nutritional Nugget:
Given the two way relationship, improving your sleep could potentially help you cut down on sugar intake, which we know to be linked to metabolic disease and weight gain.
Tips to Improve Your Sleep
- Focus on a regular routine; a hot bath, herbal tea and reading before bed
- Try to avoid mobile phone or any other devices just before bed and ideally do not have them in the bedroom
- Avoid eating for at least 2 (preferably 3) hours before bedtime
- Epsom salt baths may help to relax muscles before bedtime
For the full research article CLICK HERE
Is this you:
- Are you tired of battling constant cravings?
- Are you struggling to lose weight?
- Are you suffering from digestive discomfort like bloating?
- Are you confused as to what you need to eat to feel good?
- Are you worried you’re not feeding yourself nutritiously?
- Are you tired of the daily exasperation of
“What to eat or what to cook for dinner” - Are you tired…. of being tired all the time?
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