Weight Cuver: new research on the relationship between sleep and metabolism

In today's world of high-speed communication technology, productivity is a priority for almost everyone. The emphasis on productivity often takes away from the parts of our lives that may seem less important, but they are important to our health as sleep. You may think that a few cups of coffee to compensate for lack of sleep, but new research shows that prolonged sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain and a slower metabolism.

This week on "Take Care", says Dr. Eve Van Cauter of the importance of healthy sleep habits for food and digestive health. Van Cauter, Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago and director of the metabolism and sleep health center in the school.

Click on "read more" to hear our interview with Dr. Van Cauter.

Van Cauter humans compared to other animals that rarely receives adequate levels of sleep behavior.

"Man is unique in the lack of sleep."

According to Van Cauter, the only time the animals lose sleep if there is a lack of food or a stressful situation. Such behavior can also humans are to be observed although much more common.

"Our biology is the lack of sleep than in accordance with either a lack of food, connected interpreted a significant stress," says Van Cauter.

This behavior explains why the bowl of ice cream night may seem so attractive.

Hormones play an important role in the regulation of food intake in the body, and Van Cauter control the control hormones that appetite and hunger begins in the brain, particularly the hypothalamus.

Hypothalamic orexin neurons in maintaining wakefulness and hyperactive when the body is deprived of sleep. If orexin neurons are active, stimulating the production of hormones that are associated with an increased hunger and appetite.

If more of these hormones are produced, people tend to crave sugary and fatty foods. Van Cauter said that the reason for a phenomenon of this kind of food, is that the brain is supplied primarily of sugar and fat, and this needs to stay awake.

Due to the profound effect of sleep in the diet, Van Cauter said the success of any weight loss plan a person gets depends largely on the amount of sleep.

Many people find it difficult to get the right amount of sleep and can be inclined, other ways to try to keep the weight off. Studies have shown that hormone leptons can reduce appetite, but its use in overweight individuals is limited because they. Resistance to the hormone

Van Cauter emphasizes that sleep is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy digestive system, but not the only way.

"The regulation of hunger and appetite is not under the control of a single factor saturation factor and appetite. This is [like] the multiple endocrine monitoring [s]."

Van Cauter said the amount of sleep you need for optimal health is depending on your age.

As with any change, addition of more of sleep a day is difficult, but the benefits are significant.