Did you know that sleep is super important for a healthy metabolism? In this Eat Yourself Fit extract, I explain why getting enough Zzzzs can help to keep you feeling healthy and fit….
Sleep and Your Metabolism
Metabolism is the means by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy. During this complex biochemical process, calories in food and beverages are combined with oxygen to release the energy your body needs to function. Even when you’re sitting still or fast asleep, your body needs energy for functions such as breathing, heartbeat and blood circulation, hormone production, and growing and healing cells.
It’s not always easy to get your full requirement of sleep each night, especially with work, family or study demands. But if your aim is to maintain your weight or lose a few pounds, then getting enough sleep each night is really important for a healthy and properly functioning metabolism.
Sleep and Your Appetite
It’s actually pretty normal for sleep-deprived people to find that they gain an extra few pounds without changing their diet, as a lack of sleep can lead to various metabolic issues. It can cause you to burn fewer overall calories, run into problems with appetite control and experience an increase in cortisol levels, which encourages the body to store fat around the middle.
One of the best and easiest things you can do to boost your metabolism is get enough sleep. Sufficient sleep tends to be between seven and nine hours for most people.