Nighty Night... Sleep Tight!

You know how when you were a kid and your parents would always say "make sure you get 8 hours of sleep"? Well.. what once was something our parents "told us" to do has now become something that is a necessity! Sleep actually plays a BIG role in our calorie consumption, diet, and appetite.

According to a European study, it was found that people who experienced 3.5 to 5.5 hours of sleep per night consumed extra calories (around 385 extra calories), when compared to those who experienced 7 to 12 hours of sleep per night. MIND BLOWING! Along with increased calorie consumption, sleep deprivation can cause individuals to:

- consume more calories from fatty foods vs. protein

- experience a decrease in plasma leptin*and ghrelin* - which leads to the increased hunger and appetite

- increase glucose, insulin, and cortisol

So if you're trying to kick that late night snack bug, on the road to improve your overall health, or looking for that extra boost, take a look at your sleep schedule and squeeze in those extra ZzZzZz's!

Nighty Night, Sleep Tight!

leptin* hormone that decreases your appetite

ghrelin* hormone that increases appetite