How Sleep Affects Your Health

People who lack sleep get grumpy and less alert. Much of their ability to focus is lost and they gain weight.

Studies show that people who deprived themselves of that much needed snooze tend to go for high calorie food items. They are the ones who usually make poor food choices.

Notice that most people who lack sleep feel sluggish, and instead of going for a quick brisk walk to boost their energy, they usually reach for a cuppa and unhealthy sugary snacks.

Because of this, they gain unwanted pounds and get more fatigue than ever. And it doesn’t stop there.

They are usually too tired to cook healthy meals so they end up just taking something to go or worse heat up instant meals in a pack.

And when it’s time for bed, they find themselves too wound up for sleep so the cycle repeats itself again the next day.

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Well, sleep itself does not immediately lead to weight loss. However, getting enough sleep will greatly help regulate your hormones such as ghrelin and leptin that are responsible for your appetite.

When you get enough sleep, you will have the energy to go through your day. You will have a smaller chance of reaching for sugary snacks that will only give you a momentary boost.

For adults, it is recommended that they get at least 7 hours of sleep every day while school age kids need at least 9 hours of sleep. Of course, younger children will need more than that.

The amount of sleep varies from person to person. This means that the more hours of sleep is not always the reason why you wake up feeling more rested.

Find time to experiment and identify how many hours of sleep you need. Your individual sleep time should make you feel refreshed and alert.

Below are some tips to having a good night’s sleep:

#1. No caffeine after noon

Skip your afternoon coffee and reach out for something healthier. You can drink water to keep yourself hydrated or try green tea or other herbal teas for a change.

Have the discipline to only take decaffeinated drinks as much as possible. This will help lessen your tossing and turning problems at night.

#2. Exercise in the morning

To keep you awake, alert and active, it is a good habit to start exercising. It doesn’t have to be too complicated – a simple walk, jog and stretching will do.

However, you are discouraged to exercise at night or at hours close to bedtime. Remember that exercise keeps you awake and it surely doesn’t help you prepare for bedtime.

#3. Keep Yourself Cool

A cooler body temperature is conducive to sleep. Therefore, it is best to shower before going to bed. Make sure that your room is not too cold or too hot.

For cold weathers, you can take a warm bath and stay under the covers. Invest on your bed and choose soft cotton covers. It will help you feel more relaxed.