Trying to lose weight? You could be following all the instructions — having a balanced diet and a disciplined fitness regime — but if your sleep cycle is not right, it can hamper your way to maintain a healthy way of life.
According to a study in the US, about 30 per cent of adults sleep less than six hours a day. That, in turn, affects the brain’s power to think clearly. A new study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion says that people who maintain a constant routine of going to bed have a relatively lower percentage of body fat than the ones who follow an irregular sleeping pattern. The study also reveals that skipping on sleep leads to an increase in the production of ghrelin, a hormone that controls food cravings and reduces the amount of leptin, a hormone that helps prevent over-eating. Researchers also say that sleep does have an overall effect on physical activity, appetite and metabolism.
Several studies have also found a direct connection between sleep and weight loss. When you are asleep, it is believed that the brain is more active than any other stage and it needs fuel of thought. Thus, the body utilizes glucose for the activity in the brain. Hence, you can burn more calories while sleeping than just lying down in bed. So what should you do to have a better sleeping cycle? Have a cool drink and take a quick nap, perhaps for 25 to 30 minutes, in the middle of the day. Work out in the morning instead of night time. Just before bed, consider doing yoga, stretching or breathing exercises.