Sleep Can Make You Thinner
When your body is rested your organs will function more effectively and you will look better and appear thinner, but if you are tired, your kidneys will retain fluid and you will appear fluffy. Sugar, caffeine and refined carbohydrates give you an energy boost, so you tend to eat more and more of that which can result in an extra weight.
If you want to lose that excess weight try to get the right amount of sleep each night. The average adult needs 8 hours sleep a night. People who sleep less than that have a 45% greater risk of being overweight and those who sleep less than four hours have a 75% chance of being overweight.
Remember that if you want to lose weight, you have to try to get more sleep. Go to bed early and sleep late whenever you can! Insufficient sleep has been linked with increases in fat tissue in the body and a loss of muscle strength and also with the decrease in bone density, particularly in women. If you’re having trouble sleeping, it might be because you are lacking certain vital nutrients in your diet, leaving you feeling depressed or anxious and causing you to wake during the night unable to return to sleep. So if you suffer from insomnia, you should review your diet!
Try and include the following foods in your diet for a better night sleep:
- Unprocessed cereals - They contain complex carbohydrates which give you more energy and the fibers give you the comfortably full feeling. Cereals are rich in starch, which is known to greatly increase production of the endorphin serotonin, which is the body’s natural feel good drug. It acts to control moods, reduce anxiety and promote normal sleeping patterns.
- Oats - The oat flakes are an excellent source of vitamin B6, which is needed to promote serotonin levels in the brain.
- Tuna - Tuna and other oily fish are an excellent source of calcium, a lack of which is said to cause anxiety. They also contain the omega-3 fatty acids which is an essential nutrient.
- Bananas - Bananas are a rich source of potassium, a vital mineral for nerve function and a lack of which can cause you to feel depressed and can lead to insomnia. Bananas also have plenty of serotonin.
- Nuts - Nuts are rich in B vitamins and proteins. The lack of proteins can cause anxiety and depression.
- Strawberries - A source of vitamin C, which helps to produce endorphins and a good source of potassium, a lack of which can cause stress. The red color is due to a flavonoid, which seem to function as a biological response modifier or in other words they can change your mood for the better and help you relax.
A lack of sleep changes your hormone levels and capacity to metabolize carbohydrates so less sleep = slower metabolism = less burned calories. Studies have revealed that deep sleep causes cell repair and cell growth, which will speed up the metabolism and burn calories. So aim to get at least eight hours sleep a night and lose that extra weight!
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RSS Trackback URL 27. February 2007 (12:51)Filed under: Motivation, Nutrition, Tips, Weight loss
1 Comment»
Andy Green
27. February 2007 | 13:29 hI only sleep like 5 hours a night. I guess I should start adjusting that..