There are so many ways that poor sleep, or a lack of sleep hurts us physically and mentally, and today I will share how a lack of sleep, or a lack in quality of sleep can lead to obesity and diabetes.
And funny enough, today, on day 4 of my detox, I am suffering from a lack of sleep. I’ve noticed lately, that whenever I get a good night’s sleep with plenty of hours, I have so much energy that I stay up late the following night, causing me to get too little sleep. Sounds like a vicious cycle, doesn’t it? Well, it’s caused by not having a set routine and time schedule for my bed time. Yes, I am guilty of this, and I promise I will look into rectifying this problem A.S.A.P.!
And to help me, and you as well, here’s a great lifehacker article about how to Cultivate the Perfect Evening Routine to Avoid Insomnia and Fall Asleep Easier.
Still haven’t joined me for the 21-Day Detox for a Sexy New You? It’s never too late or too soon to start. Click here!
Now on to…
How a Lack of Sleep Can Lead to Obesity and Diabetes
While the affects on our brains may be common knowledge, because we all have found ourselves unable to speak coherently or remember what we wanted to say after a lack of sleep, the serious effects on our metabolism and hormonal household are not that apparent.
Inadequate sleep increases the level of stress hormones like cortisol and norepinephrine. Long-term high cortisol can cause fatigue, weakness, muscle and bone loss, imbalance of other hormones, weight gain, skin problems, inflammation, and even insomnia – exactly what you don’t want!
If you don’t sleep well, you can get fat. Not only does a sleep-deprived body process carbohydrate differently, it also alters the level of the hormones that control appetite.
The National Sleep Foundation also describes a never-ending cycle of obesity, sleep apnea, sleep deprivation and lack of exercise that is alarming.
BrainCraft created this great video explaining how lack of sleep can negatively impact gut bacteria and cause weight gain:
You can also read more here about a new study that found that lack of sleep can increase a person’s risk for diabetes, by impairing insulin and increasing the levels of fatty acids.
Do you have a bedtime routine? Yup, it's not just for kids! Please let me know in the comments below if getting quality sleep is something you are struggling with. I'd love to hear from you!
Hopefully, this information helps you take quality, adequate sleep more seriously, and I want to send you to just one more article that will help you get healthier and lose weight by getting better sleep: How to Get Better Sleep (and Need Less Every Night).
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