Benefits of Sleep

6/26/2018 |

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With our busy lives, sometimes our sleep takes a back seat. But did you know a short sleep duration is one of the strongest risk factors for obesity and weight gain? Not getting enough zzz's at night can cause you to gain weight—which is the opposite of what you want if you're looking to lose weight!

Getting a good night's sleep is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and can benefit your overall well-being, mind, heart, weight, and more. It can affect your diet and hinder your weight loss or fat loss program. Don't lose your progress just because you're shortchanging your sleep at night!

The connection between weight loss or weight gain and sleep is behavioral and physiological. If you're tired, you might have less energy and won't exercise or make a healthy dinner. The hormone leptin plays a big role in making you feel full, and when you don't get enough sleep, your leptin levels drop. People who are tired are hungrier and crave high-fat and high-calorie foods, because your sleep and metabolism are controlled by the same areas of the brain.

Other ways sleep can affect your overall heath:

• Sleep can lower your stress level and keep your overall blood pressure down.
• Poor sleepers—people who sleep less than 7-8 per night—have a greater risk of heart disease and stroke.
• People sleeping less than 6 hours per night are at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes.
• Getting at least 8 hours of sleep a night can improve your immune function and help fight against the common cold.

Adults should aim for 8 hours of sleep a night, and a good night's sleep consists of 4 to 5 sleep cycles. Each cycle includes periods of deep sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is when we dream. Sleep gives our entire body a chance to rest and recharge, so you’re ready for the next day. If you're feeling exhausted, then you can't function at your best. Loss of sleep can impair your memory, judgment, and attention to detail.

If you're looking to lose weight or are participating in a weight loss program, you need to prioritize your sleep! Personal Primary Care can work with you to create a customized weight loss or fat loss program that includes a great night's sleep every night. Call us at 413-787-2575 or contact us to learn more about the benefits of sleep and weight loss!

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