Can you lose weight while you sleep?

Everyone is aware that sleep loss affects mood, makes us irritable and causes us to have low energy, but recent medical evidence now shows that there is also a connection between poor sleep and weight loss. Not only the amount of sleep you get, but also the quality of it, does affect your weight.

While doctors have studied the connection between hormones and sleep, they are now finding a correlation to appetite as well. David Rappaport, MD, associate professor and director of the Sleep Medicine program at the New York University School of Medicine in New York City, has done extensive research on the hormones leptin and ghrelin. Both are connected to our appetite. The production of these hormones also increases or decreases based on how much we sleep.

These hormones work to control our feelings of hunger and fullness. Leptin, a protein hormone produced in our fat cells, tells us when we are full is. Ghrelin, a protein produced in the stomach, tells us when we are hungry. People who do not get an adequate amount of sleep have lower levels of leptin and higher levels of ghrelin. One can conclude from this that poor sleep = increase in appetite.

In a study at the University of Chicago, doctors studied 12 healthy men. They measured the levels of these proteins as well as taking note of the men's changes in appetite and hunger levels. The men were tested after two days of sleep deprivation and again after two days of extended sleep. The results showed again that during periods of poor sleep, the leptin was very low and ghrelin was very high. Their desire for food increased by as much as 45% in this test.

During a joint study of 1,000 volunteers from the University of Wisconsin and Stanford, doctors charted the number of hours the volunteers slept as well as their levels of leptin and ghrelin. Here again, the results showed that those who slept poorly had the lower levels of leptin and higher levels of ghrelin. There was also a significant correlation to a higher level of body fat. The body also produces another hormone called cortisol when it is subjected to stress, like sleep loss. An increase in cortisol stimulates the appetite, as well.

The body needs 7-9 hours sleep each night both to replenish itself and to grow. Added to the long list of reasons why sleep is so important, we can now add weight gain to the list of negatives that come with poor sleep habits. So what can we do to safely restore our body to its natural, restful state?

Many practice relaxation techniques such as meditation or taking a warm bath prior to bed to promote sleep. The old adage of drinking a glass of warm milk is actually quite effective as warm milk contains trptophan, a chemical that promotes sleep. A third suggestion is to avoid spicy food or liquids containing alcohol or caffeine to assist in falling asleep.

If these natural solutions are not working, the best suggestion is a product called LipoRid PM™. It is made from the highest quality of natural and herbal ingredients. Its blend helps to calm the nervous system and helps improve sleep habits. It is not a sleep drug or medication. A unique combination of properties in LipoRid PM™'s mix also helps to suppress appetite and stimulate the metabolism. This product can help improve your rest periods and the protein levels which have been shown to be connected to appetite and hunger. By taking two capsules prior to bedtime, you can not only get the rest you need, but lose weight while you do!

Sleep is as important to the human body as food and water. Be sure to exercise and follow healthy steps to allow your body the time to replenish itself from your busy day.