Thursday, October 31, 2013

October 31, 2013

Sleep is good for your waistline!

October 31, 2013
 
On top of feeling fabulous, sleep is super important to lots of aspects of our health. Yep -  one of the things most of us rarely get enough of can have a huge positive effects on everything from memory to weight - seriously!

Sleep helps  your brain commit new information to memory through a process called memory consolidation. In studies, people who’d slept after learning a task did better on tests later - any college students out there???  Also, it's kind of a no brainer that when you're sleep deprived  there's a greater chance that you'll fall asleep during the daytime which can be dangerous for drivers.

Anybody else get cranky when they don't get enough sleep?  That's because sleep loss can result in irritability, impatience, inability to concentrate, and moodiness.On a more serious note, sleep deprivation can mess with your immune system and sleep disorders have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels, and irregular heartbeat.

And check this out  - chronic sleep deprivation may cause weight gain by affecting the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates, and by altering levels of hormones that affect our appetite. Yep - sleeping is good for your waistline - bonus!!!!!!   

Start my shaping up!