Sleep your way skinny?
Ok, so it may not replace good diet and exercise, but based on recent studies, getting adequate and good quality sleep can improve your metabolism and curb your appetite. In fact, the study showed that getting less than 8 hours of sleep and/or poor quality sleep (disturbed sleep) can disrupt your metabolism and increase your appetite by affecting the release of leptin and ghrelin in the body– two hormones that are involved in appetite regulation. On top of that, the energy deficit that results from lack of sleep then causes the person to be less active, expend fewer calories, and consume more calories. The study showed that “shorter sleep times were associated with increased circulating ghrelin and decreased leptin, a hormonal pattern that is consistent with decreased energy expenditure and increased appetite and obesity”(PLos Med. 2004 December; 1(3): e61).
Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine offer an effective, drug-free approach to addressing sleep issues and enhancing sleep quality. Additionally, acupuncture can help assist in your weight loss efforts by optimizing metabolism, balancing hormones, and reducing food cravings. A healthy diet and regular sleep schedule is also important in maintaining optimal sleep and for general well-being.
link to the study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC535424/
