11/10/2017 / By Zoey Sky
Not getting enough sleep at night means you’ll wake up the next day tired and out of sorts. But did you know that sleep deprivation can also cause weight gain?
A study by researchers from King’s College London has revealed that if you sleep less than the required seven hours every night, you might be eating at least an added 385 calories per day. These additional calories can add at least a pound to your weight weekly. (Related: Three mind-body causes of weight gain.)
The researchers looked into 11 studies to establish if sleep duration affected weight gain. The results revealed that sleep deprivation caused individuals to eat more food with higher fat content the next day instead of going for healthier options. Researchers found that while some participants didn’t eat more the next day, they still “made more unhealthy choices.” Individuals aged 18 to 64 should sleep for at least seven to nine hours each night, says the National Sleep Foundation. Experts also say that this is key to a healthy diet.
The authors shared, “These ?ndings suggest that short sleep heightens the motivation to seek food for reward.” When you’ve been up all night, a sweet treat might seem like a good idea the next day, and you might even feel like you “deserve” this reward, resulting in a diet consisting of “higher fats and lower proteins.”
This doesn’t bode well for your health because it is necessary to have a sufficient amount of protein in one’s diet since the cells in the body need it to function properly. Protein also gives structure for the body’s organs, muscles, hair, and nails. Another function of protein is it allows cells to communicate with one another, allowing for muscle contractions and nerve signals. With a low-protein and high-fat diet, one can have a higher risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure.
The team concluded that sleep-deprived people tended to snack on a pack of cookies or chips, resulting in an additional 385 calories per day. The researchers also verified that those who had less than seven hours of sleep at night were not as active the next day. This implied that people did not engage in physical exercise which contributed to their weight gain.
The body needs to burn off an average of 3,500 calories per week (or 500 calories per day) to lose a pound. Now, if the body gains an extra 400 calories instead of burning it off, a person will gain one pound every week. Experts suggest that we keep tabs on our sleep habits so our diet and weight aren’t negatively affected.
If you’re worried about your weight and want to get at least seven hours of sleep at night, here are some tips to help you sleep better:
You can read more articles about how to eat healthier at Detox.news.
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