Now you have even more compelling reasons to stop being the only guy in the office who says, “Hey, did anyone see The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson last night?” To begin with, no one has ever seen that show. More important, lack of sleep could be destroying your physique and your health.
In case you were nodding off when the memo went out, quality sleep is required for optimal muscle recovery and brain function. Moreover, numerous studies have linked a lack of shut-eye to hypertension and type 2 diabetes. For those of you with a stubborn streak as wide as Prince Fielder, maybe this study will hit you in the gut.
Research
As reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology, a study that followed 68,000 Americans for 16 years found that those who got five hours or less of sleep per night were one-third more likely to gain 30-plus pounds over the course of the study than those who slept seven hours or longer per night.
The reason for the weight gain appears to be an imbalance in the hormones leptin and ghrelin. Leptin is produced mainly by fat cells, and it decreases hunger and increases metabolic rate. Ghrelin, on the other hand, is produced by the gastrointestinal tract and increases hunger. One study by researchers at the University of Chicago reported that men who were sleep-deprived for two days experienced a rise in ghrelin levels and a drop in leptin levels, along with a concomitant rise in hunger. A Stanford University (California) study reported that subjects who slept the least had lower levels of leptin, and higher levels of ghrelin and bodyfat compared to those who got eight hours of sleep.
Solution:
Get 7-9 hours of Zs every night. This will not only enhance your recovery but also aid your health and help you keep fat off.
Author: Jim Stopanni
References:
COPYRIGHT 2009 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2009 Gale, Cengage Learning
