The world moves at a breakneck pace. Many of us wake up and go through our daily routines—breakfast, commute, work, commute—and it’s important to carve out time in our days for healthy meals, physical activity, and, above all, rest.
What happens to our bodies when we don't get enough rest?
On the other hand, the hormone ghrelin is responsible for telling our brain that we’re hungry. And if you sleep only a few hours a day, this hormone works overtime, sending excessive hunger signals. This domino effect occurs because our body, exhausted from a lack of sleep and rest, seeks energy through food. In simple terms, you’d be trading hours of rest for calories. This trade-off can be harmful to your health.
Recent studies show that lack of sleep is linked to an increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, a larger waist circumference, and heart disease. With this in mind, ask yourself: How many hours do you sleep each day? How much time do you spend resting? From now on, don’t feel guilty about taking time to rest, and make sure you get enough sleep.
This might just be the missing piece you need for a healthier life. I’m going to try to get more rest and sleep. Go ahead and make a commitment to make rest a priority, too.
The author is Alana Marrero González, MHSN, LND Nutritionist/Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator.
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