Good sleep is one of the cornerstones of health. We now know that sleep triggers a number of
hormones that regulate cravings and weight gain. For example, too little sleep
causes an increase in ghrelin, an appetitie-stimulating hormone, and a decrease
in leptin, which helps you feel full.
Lack of sleep can have a major impact on your ability to maintain a
desirable caloric balance. A recent
study found that individuals who were sleep deprived (six or less hours per
night for eight nights) consumed over 500 additional calories during the
day. Researchers suggest that lack of
sleep may be one preventable cause of weight gain and obesity.
Need more reasons to work on getting good sleep? Poor sleep is also
associated with higher incidence of depression, diabetes and heart disease.
Don’t let sleepless nights sabotage your exercise and eating plans.
Choose to sleep well by following these steps:
•
Establish a regular bedtime.
•
Make your space restful. Eliminate clutter in the bedroom and keep it
cool, dark and quiet.
•
If you have trouble falling asleep, try either a
progressive muscle relaxation or relaxing imagery exercise right before
drifting off.
•
Use the Wellintune Sleep Tracker to make connections
between your sleep quality and your daily routine. Understanding what contributes to a sleepless
night will help you make better choices throughout the week.