Adults need between seven and nine hours of quality sleep per night, but an increasing number of people are surviving on six hours or less. It may not come as a surprise that more Americans are turning to coffee for their daily jolt given how many of us shortchange our sleep. You may believe that giving up a few hours of sleep is not a big deal if your days are busy and you are short on time.
However, studies show that inadequate sleep has an impact on hormone levels linked to stress, hunger, satiety, and even insulin sensitivity.
Poor sleep may result in a cascade of metabolic changes, including a drop in blood levels of leptin (a hormone that triggers feelings of fullness after eating) and an increase in blood levels of ghrelin (a hormone that stimulates appetite and helps regulate body weight over time). Cortisol levels also typically decrease as bedtime draws near, but studies show that elevated levels persist in people who are sleep deprived. Poor sleep can cause cortisol levels to rise above normal over time, which can cause insulin resistance and raise your risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Furthermore, your levels of human growth hormone (HGH) may fall if you routinely skip sleep. In addition to sleeping patterns, factors such as age, gender, diet, level of physical activity, and weight affect how much HGH is secreted. It functions in conjunction with another hormone called Insulin-like Growth Factor-1. Normal IGF-1 levels are one of the growth factors used in a natural hormone treatment to promote muscle protein synthesis and growth, allowing you to sleep better, feel better.
Looking for a doctor who provides at-home Growth Factor products to help you get a better night's sleep? Contact us today and we will put you in touch with the nearest BioPro+ provider in your region.
