Could your lack of sleep be causing you to reach for that extra glazed doughnut the next morning?
According to two new studies, sleeping fewer hours than your body needs impacts how you interpret unhealthy food choices.
"The results suggest that, under restricted sleep, individuals will find unhealthy foods highly salient and rewarding, which may lead to greater consumption of those foods," said Dr. Marie Pierre St. Onge, a research associate at the New York Obesity Research Center, in an interview with The Telegraph.
In short, the studies show that less sleep equals more calories consumed the following day. One's impaired cognitive ability makes that bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich at the nearest fast food outlet seem especially delectable, perhaps because he or she is looking for a quick burst of energy.
Scientists have long associated sleep deprivation with obesity, and it remains inconclusive whether it is a cause-or-effect phenomenon in those who are overweight. However, it is now known that there are innumerable benefits of a good night's sleep, including having a stronger memory and attention span, curbing inflammation, and reducing stress.
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