Posts Tagged ‘sleep deprivation’

Sleep Deprivation Can Spike Your Cortisol Levels

Written by Manny Erlich. Posted in Sleep Disorders

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Sleep deprived? Too little sleep can spike up the level of cortisol in your body. Cortisol is the stress hormone which increases appetite, and has your body calling for starchy and sugary foods.

Before you know it your waistline is expanding and more belly fat begins to hang over your swimsuit – one of the more obvious changes you begin to notice.  It’s the cortisol working on the body. It’s breaking down your muscle mass while storing fat in the abdominal region. 

To make matters worse cortisol can also affect your libido, cause depression and lead to memory loss.

It may be time to make some lifestyle changes.  How can you become healthier and at the same time improve your swimsuit body?

Start with getting a good night’s sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation adults need 7-9 hours of sleep each day. Not getting adequate sleep affects your cortisol level and leads to belly fat.

So, if you are keeping your bed partner up at night, consider having a sleep study to learn why.  Snoring or any number of other issues may be the cause.  Find out what can be done to stop the snoring or address these issues to improve your quality of life and you’ll be happier and healthier. 

So will your bed partner!