By: Ana Margarita Olar| Vigorbuddy.com
There are many suggested ways to lose weight. Diet modification, shakes and juices, and moderate to intense workouts among others. But do you know that having a regular sleep can also help us lose weight? Here are some ways on how hitting the sheets can help you shed some pounds:
REGULAR SLEEP PATTERN IS IN DIRECT CORRELATION WITH WEIGHT
This was a study led by Bruce Bailey. He is a professor of Science at Brigham Young. The research involves monitoring the activities of 300 female students between 19-26 years old, for 1 week.
According to the study, participants who slept between 8 to 8.5 hours were found to have the lowest amount of body fat. Those who slept less than 6.5 hours or more than 8.5 hours have an increased chance of gaining weight. Also, those who have irregular sleep patterns are at risk of gaining weight.
REGULAR SLEEP AFFECTS OUR METABOLISM
After a good night’s sleep, you feel refreshed and energized. And not only that, your body burns more calories after a full night’s rest. A study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that calories burned when you are not moving are 5 % higher to people who have regular sleep patterns.
These people also burned 20% more calories after a meal. Another study from the University of Chicago showed that regular sleep is related to fat loss. The study compared the weight loss results of people who sleep 8-8.5 hours per night against those who sleep 5.5 hours per night.
In both conditions, the participants are only allowed a meal of 1450 calories per day. Half of the well-rested participants lost 6 and a half pounds and only ¼ of tired participants lost the same amount of fats.
REGULAR SLEEP AFFECTS OUR APPETITE
When we stay up late into the night, we have a tend to grab a midnight snack. A study from the University of Pennsylvania supports this fact. On 7 days, they have observed that participants who slept from 4 am to 8 am gained more weight than participants who sleep from 11 pm to 8 am. And this is mostly because the late sleepers ate a 550 calorie snack late into the night.
REGULAR SLEEP AFFECTS HORMONAL BALANCE
Regular sleep or the lack of it also affects our brain functions. Researchers from Harvard Medical School performed brain scans on people with daytime sleepiness. It also measured their brain activity in response to high-calorie foods. The scans showed reduced activation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. This is the area of the brain involved with inhibition and behavior control. When you have lowered inhibition, you have an increased tendency to overeat.
Sleeping is not the only way to lose weight. But your conscious decision to have a regular sleep may be the start of a healthier life and a healthier you.