We’ve heard it all before that getting your seven to eight hours of sleep is important, but more than not, it hasn’t never been explained in detail why it’s so important, at least not to me.
As it pertains to beauty, getting the proper amount of Z’s is vital to your skin and your weight and your overall health. Catching up with our favorite shows on television or online (Hello Netflix!), or simply sucking up all that Instagram has to offer around 11 pm, ain’t doing us any good. How so? I’m glad you asked.
For starters, we all know that not getting enough rest can give us luggage under our eyes, but what else? Our skin can, literally, take on a lackluster appearance and lackluster skin equals looking old and haggard and your skin can show early signs of aging with fine lines.
Not only that, when you don’t get the proper amount of rest, it can be hard to lose weight and you can actually pack on the pounds by consuming more calories. Don’t believe it? Well, according a USA Today article on the subject, the many things a lack of sleep can do to your weight includes:
• Increased levels of a hunger hormone called ghrelin and decreased levels of the satiety/fullness hormone called leptin, which could lead to overeating and weight gain.
• Consumption of about 300 calories a day more than when they are well-rested. Overall, most of the extra calories came from high-fat foods.
• Snacking more and do less physical activity.
• Eating more than what is needed to cover the energy cost of staying awake longer, especially at night, which can lead to significant weight gain.
As mentioned before, we have many more distractions to contend with these days and one of the main culprits to not getting enough rest is lying in bed on our smart phones. I am totally G-U-I-L-T-Y. I can go to bed at a decent hour, like 10 pm and not get off to sleep until 12 AM or later. So, I’m only fooling myself and I bet you are, too. 🙂
Here is a round up of things to read about beauty sleep or lack there of and what it can do for you and to you:
The Atlantic – How Smartphones Hurt Sleep
USA Today – How Sleep Loss Leads to Significant Weight Gain
Style Caster – How Sleep Affects Your Skin
