How Lack of Sleep Increases Junk Food
Cravings?
We all know the importance of sleep and how it is healthy for health. But according to the Centers for disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in three adults do not get enough sleep. Lack of sleep affects
your health in several ways. Recent studies have shown a link between unhealthy diet, poor sleep, and
overeating. Chronic sleep deprivation is associated with unhealthy eating patterns that lead to several
health problems like obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke, therefore, at least seven hours
per night sleep is recommended.
If you want to know how sleeping patterns adversely affect our health and how a lack of sleep increases
junk food craving? Well, you’ve landed in the right place! In this blog, I will also discuss that it’s not only
the body that suffers, but sleep deprivation can also cause poor decision making and mental distress.
What is the link between appetite and sleep deprivation?
Sleep and nutrition are linked with each other. A major linkage is between sleep and overeating. Sleep
deprivation affects appetite and food choices, it increases the chances of both consuming unhealthy
food especially junk food, and overeating.
A research study has shown that insufficient sleep increases overeating and unhealthy food choices that
lead to health problems like obesity and diabetes.
There is also a common connection between appetite and sleep deprivation. We often think of appetite
just as a matter of stomach grumbling but it is actually controlled by neurotransmitters. These
neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that help nerve cells to communicate with each other.
There are two neurotransmitters that are linked with appetite; Leptin and Ghrelin. Leptin helps in
feeling full while Ghrelin promotes hunger. Sleep deprivation affects the body’s regulation of these
neurotransmitters. In one research, it was found that someone who got 4 hours of sleep had an
increased level of Ghrelin and decreased Leptin as compared to those who got 10 hours of sleep.
What Is Link Between Sleep Deprivation and Junk Food Cravings?
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism looked at the connection
between sleep and junk food cravings and they found a link between sleep deprivation and junk food
cravings. They also analyzed that sleep deprivation is known to stimulate food intake and appetite. As a
result of this result, it was hypothesized that a tired person is more prone to rewarding food stimuli of
high-calorie foods.
According to health experts, when we are tired our olfactory system goes into overdrive to identify the
food. It also results in changing the communication with the brain. This is why we are more susceptible
to enticing aromas of coffee or baked bacon when we are tired.
After being sleep deprived, one person takes food with the high amount of calories like chocolates,
doughnuts, cookies, and potato chips.
So, if you want to curb all these cravings for unhealthy food, just start with a regular and good sleep
pattern. After having a good sleep at night, you will feel healthy physically as well as mentally, and you
will be less susceptible to all the junk foods.