Find out how lack of sleep gives cravings

diipo adeusi

March 4, 2016 7:28 AM

Sleep deprivation brings the munchies

Rather than getting an early night, you decide to visit the gym. Well, it turns out that might be counter-productive, according to a new study which reveals that a lack of sleep gives us cravings.

If you ever wondered why you eat more after a horrible night’s rest, a new study reveals that sleep deprivation gives us cravings like that of people who smoke cannabis.

Erin Hanlon, a research associate in endocrinology at the University of Chicago said "We know that when people use marijuana, they overeat. And they tend to eat things that are yummy and rewarding."

According to a study, published in the journal, Sleep, it found that when volunteers were not allowed sleep, the chemicals in their brain that look like the same chemicals found in cannabis, called 2-AG, stayed up longer.

Higher levels of 2-AG are connected with heightened appetite, and the part of the brain this ignites, the cannabinoid system, is essentially the brain’s ‘thank you’ system. Which is why it feels so much better to eat sugar when we’re tired.

For the research, 14 volunteers were split in two halfs. One half were allowed to sleep for eight and a half hours, and half were only allowed four and a half hours. The result was that the sleep-deprived group ate more calories than their well-rested peers, and opted for messier foods.

Research unveils that a lack of sleep affects how easily we can say no to an unhealthy diet. What do you think of this finding. Let us know below.

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