Sleep deprivation can lead to unhealthy snacking. It’s a well-known fact that sleep deprivation can lead to overeating and weight gain. But a new study suggests that lack of sleep can cause people to snack on unhealthy foods, too.
In the research released in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, approximately 20,000 people, aged 20 to 60, were eaten in between meals and then focused on sleeping patterns in 2 categories: one that slept the regular 7 hours per night, and one that did not.
The study correlated sleeping patterns and snacking habits. The conclusions discovered the following:
“Those not meeting sleep recommendations were significantly more likely to report consuming a morning snack and less likely to consume an afternoon snack than those meeting sleep recommendations. Intakes of energy, protein, carbohydrate, added sugars, and caffeine from morning and evening snacks were significantly higher for those not meeting sleep recommendations. The leading contributors to energy from snacks in morning and afternoon were non-alcoholic beverages and snacks and sweets.”
Breaking the cycle of snacking is the key to preventing overeating, and a healthy way to snack is by fueling your body with real food. Instead of turning to empty calories, try filling your plate with snacks that provide your body with beneficial nutrients. Before you tell yourself that you don’t have time to prepare healthy meals, realize that most grocery stores have prepared foods that are ready in minutes.
If you’re worried about healthy foods being boring, there’s a lot of interesting information on food blogs and websites dedicated to healthy recipes. One of the best ways to wean yourself off of unhealthy foods is to make your own. It’s easy to throw together a smoothie or a salad, but it takes time and a conscious effort to avoid eating unhealthy snacks.
