Body Weight - Do you know there are two hormones in your body that regulate hunger? There are ghrelin and leptin, and both are affected by your sleep quality. When your body is sleep-deprived, the level of ghrelin spikes while leptin falls lead to an increase in hunger. Skimping on sleep also sets your brain to make bad decisions; you will have more cravings for sweet, salty, and starchy food. Besides all the unnecessary cravings, research also shows that you can increase up to 50% the risk of getting obese if you get less than 5 hours of sleep every night. A simple explanation is when sleep goes down; weight goes up. So? It's time to clock in that 8 hours of sleep tonight!
Prevention
The best way to prevent sleep deprivation is to make sure you get adequate sleep every night. For most adults, you need to ensure that you have at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. Tips to get back on track for better sleep quality include:
1. Try Aromatherapy
2. Listen to relaxing music
3. Avoid taking daytime naps
4. Take a relaxing bath before bedtime
5. Reduce caffeine and alcohol intake
6. Sleep and wake up at a consistent time
7. Avoid sugary or heavy foods before bedtime
8. Try drinking chamomile or lavender tea before sleep
Sleep deprivation might be hard to overcome, but there are steps that you can take action to. Supplements are important to consider; here are two product recommendations that work best for people who are looking to curb unwanted cravings and improve overall metabolic health.