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Why You Should Never Skimp on Sleep

We all know that when it comes to being healthy, your diet and your activity level are two very important factors. But there’s another factor to health that so many people overlook and often skimp on. It’s sleep. Research has shown that sleep plays a critical role in maintaining health and unhealthy sleep habits have a negative effect on almost every other facet of your life.

Here are a few important facts that will make you think twice before burning the midnight oil.

  • Research has shown that people who sleep less weigh more. In fact, not getting enough quality sleep is a huge risk factor for obesity. One study showed that children and adults with short sleep duration were 89% and 55% more likely to become obese. These same studies proved that people who are sleep deprived have bigger appetites and consume more calories each day. This is because sleep deprivation disrupts the hormones that regulate your appetite and your hunger and satiety cues.
  • Getting better sleep also improves your brain function. When you are well rested, your cognitive, memory and problem solving abilities are higher. One study showed that prolonged periods of short sleep can affect brain functions in the same way that being intoxicated does.

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This Simple Thing Will Get You Better Weight Loss Results

If there was one simple thing you could do that would almost guarantee you better weight loss results, would you do it? If the answer is yes, then grab a pen and a notebook because that one thing does exist and it is the simple act of keeping a food journal. Not just one, but several studies have shown that keeping a food journal helps people to lose more weight. One study in particular that was published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine showed that people who kept a food diary six days per week lost almost twice as much weight as those who did not!
Keeping a food diary is an excellent tactic for weight loss as it increases two key things: your awareness and accountability for the foods you consume. If you’re diligent and write down everything you eat or drink it can help you see where some of your “hidden calories” may be lurking. It can also reveal patterns such as times of day that you veer off track. And, sometimes just knowing you’ll have to record that late night bowl of ice cream is enough of a deterrent to stop you from having it.

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