Can Losing Sleep Makes You Fat

Losing sleep makes you fat says Dr Mark Hyman from Ultra Wellness. 

Besides eating whole foods and moving your body, getting enough sleep is the most important thing you can do for your health.  Sleep deprivation makes you fat and it leads to depression, pain, heart disease diabetes and much more.

A new study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that people tend to overestimate the amount of sleep that they get. 

Video Clip:

Graciela Silva, assistant professor, college of nursing and health care innovation, at Arizona State University says:

People are losing sleep.  Although seven and a half to eight hours are recommended, people sleep, on average, six hours each night.  Sleep deficiency may affect daily functioning and may be associated with increased risk for cardiovascular and metabolic conditions.

Here are a few suggestions on getting 8 hours of good sleep:

1. Get on a regular schedule(go to bed and wake up at the same time every day)
2. Get 20-30 minutes of regular exposure to sunlight even if its cloudy out(daylight triggers powerful chemicals and hormones that release melatonin which is vital to sleep, mood and aging).
3. Refrain from heavy meals, hot baths, or vigorous exercise 3 hours before bedtime.
4. Avoid caffeine and alcohol late in the day.
5. Remove computers and televisions from the bedroom
6. And my favorite suggestion is finding a meditation CD to listen to when you are going to sleep.(one of my special  CD's is Planetary Meditation for Peace.

More suggestions to follow in Mark Hyman video.