Could Lack of Sleep Be The Weight Culprit?
Many women struggle to get a good quality night’s sleep. Oftentimes times stress may be one of the biggest culprits of all, sapping our body for much-needed sleep.
But what is interesting is that the impact of lack of sleep could be having on our weight and on aging.
Recent research has focused on the link between sleep and the peptides that regulate appetite. Ghrelin stimulates hunger and leptin is the hormone that signals your brain when you are full according to research shortened sleep time is associated with decreases in leptin and elevations in ghrelin.
So not only does sleep loss appear to stimulate appetite. It also inhibits our ability to know when we are full – often leading to as overeating.
As well when you don’t get enough sleep, your body releases more of the stress hormone cortisol. In excess amounts, cortisol can break down skin collagen, the protein that keeps skin smooth and elastic.
Lack of sleep can also speed up the process of (the brain’s) aging. This usually leads to symptoms such as loss of memory, loss of cognitive functions, slower reflexes in general
Sleep loss also causes the body to release too little human growth hormone. When we’re young, human growth hormone promotes growth. As we age, it helps increase muscle mass, thicken skin, and strengthen bones.
So a good night’s sleep is essential to our health and wellbeing and staying younger.
So some tips to promote a good night’s sleep
1. Try to stick to a regular time for both going to bed and getting up in the morning
2. Add at least 20 – 30 minutes of exercise to your day. HIIT aerobics combined with weights or resistance exercises such as pushups or squats are ideal for increasing muscle mass
3. Turn off computers and laptops at least an hour before you go to bed.
4. Create a To-do list at night for the following day to help get things that might be worrying you.
5 Include tapping or meditation into your daily routine to cope with stress and anxiety
Reference Resources
Foods that block Leptin http://www.ehow.com/list_5782873_foods-block-leptin.html
Leptin and Leptin Resistance, Everything You Need To Know http://authoritynutrition.com/leptin-101/
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