Sufficient sleep can curb your cravings for sweet and salty foods: Study
| Jun 6, 2019, 12:42 IST
A new study has found a good night's rest can curb your cravings for sweet and salty foods. The findings suggest you can significantly reduce the number of calories and sugar you consume.
Sleeping for less than seven hours has been found to increase the risk of heart disease and metabolic disorders. However, lead author of the study Rob Henst, an Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, says getting the right amount of sleep can help reduce these risks.
Researchers examined 138 people for the study. They were categorised into four groups:
- Healthy short-sleeping
- Overweight short-sleeping
- Pre- or hypertensive short-sleeping individuals
Through the study, the team found sufficient sleep can improve insulin resistance and reduce cravings for sweet, salty and dairy products. "It is now apparent that poor sleep quality may be an equally important risk factor for cardio-metabolic diseases," Dale Rae from the University of Cape Town, told a news portal. The study's findings were originally published in the Journal of Sleep Research.
Previous research has found insufficient sleep can cause dehydration. A team from Pennsylvania State University discovered the root caused was associated with the way the body's hormonal system regulates hydration. "Vasopressin is released both more quickly and later on in the sleep cycle," lead author of the study Asher Rosinger told a news portal. Adding, "So, if you're waking up earlier, you might miss that window in which more of the hormone is released, causing a disruption in the body's hydration."
Multiple studies have shown how sleep can improve our overall health in powerful ways. One study found a good seven to eight hours of sleep helped participants perform better cognitively. "We found that the optimum amount of sleep to keep your brain performing its best is 7 to 8 hours every night and that corresponds to what the doctors will tell you need to keep your body in tip-top shape, as well. We also found that people that slept more than that amount were equally impaired as those who slept too little," study author Conor Wild told a news portal.
If you have trouble sleeping, experts say the solution is to have a regular bedtime. Setting a specific time to fall asleep at night can help improve the quality of your life.
Sleeping for less than seven hours has been found to increase the risk of heart disease and metabolic disorders. However, lead author of the study Rob Henst, an Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, says getting the right amount of sleep can help reduce these risks.
Researchers examined 138 people for the study. They were categorised into four groups:
- Healthy short-sleeping
- Overweight short-sleeping
- Pre- or hypertensive short-sleeping individuals
Through the study, the team found sufficient sleep can improve insulin resistance and reduce cravings for sweet, salty and dairy products. "It is now apparent that poor sleep quality may be an equally important risk factor for cardio-metabolic diseases," Dale Rae from the University of Cape Town, told a news portal. The study's findings were originally published in the Journal of Sleep Research.
Previous research has found insufficient sleep can cause dehydration. A team from Pennsylvania State University discovered the root caused was associated with the way the body's hormonal system regulates hydration. "Vasopressin is released both more quickly and later on in the sleep cycle," lead author of the study Asher Rosinger told a news portal. Adding, "So, if you're waking up earlier, you might miss that window in which more of the hormone is released, causing a disruption in the body's hydration."
Multiple studies have shown how sleep can improve our overall health in powerful ways. One study found a good seven to eight hours of sleep helped participants perform better cognitively. "We found that the optimum amount of sleep to keep your brain performing its best is 7 to 8 hours every night and that corresponds to what the doctors will tell you need to keep your body in tip-top shape, as well. We also found that people that slept more than that amount were equally impaired as those who slept too little," study author Conor Wild told a news portal.
If you have trouble sleeping, experts say the solution is to have a regular bedtime. Setting a specific time to fall asleep at night can help improve the quality of your life.