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w w w . s t h e l e n a h o s p i t a l s . o r g | 3

Can You Sleep

It reduces cravings for unhealthy food.

According to one study, the sleep-deprived group wanted

foods that contained an average of 600 calories more than

what they craved when they were well rested. Researchers think

that getting a full night of sufficient sleep actually helps to reboot

and refresh the circuits of the human brain, allowing it to make

optimal food choices.

It can help you feel fuller, longer.

Getting a good night’s rest not only helps you fight the urge to

reach for a bag of chips, it also keeps your hunger pangs in

check. According to one study, when people didn’t get enough

sleep, their hormone levels became unbalanced. Their levels of

the hormone leptin, which is responsible for feeling full, dropped,

and the levels of the appetite-inducing hormone ghrelin went up.

As a result, researchers think sleep helps our bodies keep those

hunger hormones in line.

You’re more likely to exercise.

Losing weight takes a lot of energy, and if you are sleeping

too much, it’s going to impact your energy level, while sleeping

too little can affect your ability to focus and concentrate on all

the tasks at hand. One researcher believes that one of the main

reasons getting enough sleep is linked to successful weight loss

is that it provides you with the drive you need to stick to

your goals.

Sleep leads to better calorie burn.

While you sleep, you’re likely to burn somewhere between

50 and 100 calories an hour. Experts are now learning that getting

the right amount of sleep encourages a healthy metabolism, and

skimping on sleep throws it out of whack. Other research has

shown that sleeping in cooler temperatures can stimulate the

development of a type of fat called brown fat, which burns more

calories and has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity.

Yourself Slim?

Forty percent of Americans get just six hours of sleep or less per

night, according to a recent Gallup poll. And groggy mornings and

a cranky attitude aren’t the only side effects of insufficient shut-eye

either —missing out on sleep can also lead to weight gain.

If you’re trying to slim down or shape up, hitting the sack is just as

important as sweating at the gym. These four reasons are your best

excuses to hit the snooze button and get more sleep.