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Go away Ghrelin, I love Leptin!

Lose weight while you are sleeping?

 What a concept! Look out fitness and weight loss supplement industry, because there is a new weight-loss sheriff in town!

 SLEEP!

Studies are now showing that you can lose weight by how much you sleep and the quality of your sleep and that it has a strong affect on your appetite. There are two hormones produced in our body that are rarely discussed in the health industry- ghrelin and leptin. They both work hand in hand to control feelings of hunger and fullness.

What are these two hormones?

Ghrelin is produced in the gut and it stimulates your appetite, meaning, it makes you want to eat more food. Leptin is produced in the fat cells and send s a signal to our brain when you are full. That is why I created the mantra:

Go away Ghrelin, I love Leptin™!

 So how are they connected to sleep?

When you don’t get enough number of sleep hours, it drives the leptin down, which means you don’t feel very satisfied after your meals. Lack of sleep also stimulates ghrelin release, which means your appetite goes up so you want to eat more food. Not the best for your health and waist-slimming efforts.

This explains why people over eat after a poor night’s sleep—never satisfied with their meals, which sabotages their efforts to lose that muffin top!

One study from Stanford University of California found that those who slept less than eight hours a night had lower levels of leptin and higher levels of ghrelin, AND sure enough—higher levels of body fat! Those who slept the fewest hours each night weighed the most!

OK – let’s make SLEEP a priority to a healthier and happier new you!

Here are 5 easy-to-implement tips to getting more sleep:

 1. Eat healthful meals regularly- 3 meals per day and a snack. Stabilizing your blood sugar and optimal protein ingestion will help with you from waking up in the middle of the night.

Not sure what types of food to eat?

Sign up for my free Do’s and Don’ts Gut Restore Checklist on the right!

 2. Turn off all overhead lights, television, computers, and electrical gadgets by 9:00 pm and take a nice relaxing bath with a few drops of lavender oil.

 3. To keep your mind from thinking about your next day tasks and responsibilities while lying in bed, write them down in your journal and it will free your brain from ruminating.

 4. Use an eye mask and ear plugs, these are my most important sleeping aids!

 5. Keep animals out of your bed, we love them but love your sleep more!

 Sleep is one of my best strategies to living young and strong!

 Be~Well,

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SLEEP ALLERGIES?

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Many people today are developing allergies far into adulthood. Most people believe you have to be born with allergies, but you can actually develop allergies at any point during your life. It is possible for us to acquire more allergies as we grow with the more we are exposed to. Over exposure of any substance can cause an allergy!

A new finding suggests many people are gaining new allergies due to a lack of sleep. “Researchers claim that sleep shortage can contribute not just to ailments like diabetes or obesity but could also speed the risks of developing allergies and/or infections in the future.” Lack of sleep is caused by a multitude of reasons, stress, anxiety or a busy schedule. But these factors may in fact weaken your immune system, making you more likely to develop an allergy.

It is recommended that you sleep at least 6-8 hours each night. This may seem impossible with a busy schedule, but having enough rest will ensure a healthy body. Sleep contributes to many functions of the body, so not getting enough rest can affect your whole day, disrupting concentration, memory, appetite and of course your immune system. Try creating a good sleep schedule to fit your routine, and be sure to avoid heavy meals a few hours before sleeping , along with caffeinated beverages. We all know how demanding our schedules can often be, but it is important not to let your body suffer because of it!

References:

Sleep Deficiency Linked With Allergies

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Counting Sleep

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sleep insomniaFrom time to time, many of us have trouble falling to sleep. For some, the problem can be chronic and can effect all aspects of our health and wellness, In order to correct this, we have put together a short list of tips and changes for your nighttime regiment to help put an end to those sleepless nights:

  1. Dim your lights at sundown.
    Our natural circadian rhythms are affected by artificial light sources and keep the brain active telling us to “stay awake.”
  2. Turn off the TV.
    Television, the computer and games (video, crossword puzzles, board games, cards, etc.) keep you stimulated and don’t allow you to relax and unwind.
  3. Exercise in the morning.
    This tip will jump start your day, boost your metabolism and energize you for anything that comes your way. On the flip side, working out at night would also give you energy, thus not allowing you to fall asleep easily due to the increase of cortisol production stimulated by vigorous physical activity.
  4. Eliminate any external light and sound sources
    Ambient light, street sounds and lights, loud clocks, electronic devices (tivo, etc.) can emit some form of light and sound that does not allow our bodies to be at rest. Purchase blackout shades for your windows, a mask for your eyes and plugs for your ears. You will get plenty of REM sleep and wake up refreshed and renewed.
  5. Do not consume stimulants after 3pm.
    Avoid alcohol, sugar, coffee, caffeinated beverages, chocolate, etc. These food items are loaded with stimulants and will keep you up and awake. Also, try to avoid eating large meals before bedtime.

Give these tips a try and let us know your results. Please leave a comment at the post below. Sweet dreams and nighty night!

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