Taking sleep for granted can be a big mistake, as having the right amount is essential to staying fit and healthy.
Sleep, a natural body function that is as important as eating and should never be neglected. You will probably find it difficult to stay in shape if you sleep too much or too little. For weight watchers, it is important to learn the connection between lack of sleep and obesity.
It’s a vicious cycle: Lack of sleep stimulates the release of hormones, such as ghrelin, which promote appetite and hunger, increasing a person’s risk of developing obesity. On the other hand, people who suffer from obesity have trouble sleeping due to blocked airways that limit breathing, preventing the body from staying healthy by not getting enough rest.
Studies show that lack of sleep, even a few hours short, can cause serious health problems for people and can undermine efforts to stay healthy. Sleeping just six hours a night increases a person’s chances of developing obesity by 23 percent, according to the National Sleep Disorders Research Center at the National Institutes of Health. Also, sleeping no more than four hours a night increases the risk by as much as 73 percent.
In addition to increasing the chances of obesity, sleeping less than six hours a night for just two weeks can significantly slow down reaction time, memory and cognition, according to a study conducted by the Medical University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Staying healthy will be impossible with less than five hours of sleep, as the risk of high blood pressure can increase by 50 percent due to elevated levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, which restricts the heart. This can lead to a weaker immune system, heart disease, and stroke.
Sleeping, a simple and natural act that can help us stay fit and healthy with the added benefit of preventing us from gaining weight. It’s time for us to realize that letting our bodies rest when tired is not a bad work ethic. Because, on the contrary, we will never reach productivity when we are too tired to even think clearly.
Stop thinking that not sleeping today is good for your future because if you don’t rest, you may not have enough tomorrow to enjoy.