According to Shawn Talbott, author of The Cortisol Connection Diet, recent scientific findings show that inadequate sleep may actually cause insulin resistance.  This is particularly interesting because of the well-known link between sleep deprivation and elevated corisol levels.  In 2001, at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Diabetes Association, sleep researchers from the University of Chicago showed that inadequate sleep leads to increased coritsol levels, insulin resistance, higher blood-sugar levels, elevated appetite, and weight gain.  The research team compared “normal” sleepers (averaging 7.5 to 8.5 hours of sleep per night) to “short” sleepers (averaging less than 6.5 hours of sleep per night).  They found that the “short” sleepers secreted 50 percent more cortisol and insulin, and were 40 percent less sensitive to the effects of insulin, than the “normal” sleepers.

The researchers also suggested that sleep deprivation might play a significant role in the current epidemic of obesity and type-2 diabetes.  Add to this the results from a recent poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, which found a steady decline in the number of hours that Americans sleep each night.  In 1910, the average American slept a whopping 9 hours per night.  In 1975, it was down to about 7.5 hours.  Today, we average only about 7 hours of sleep per night and many of us get far less than that.

How can you reverse this vicious cycle to regain your health and lower your body fat?  The solution is simple:  get at least 8 hours of sleep a night.

Benefits of Getting 8 Hours of Sleep:
1.    Helps with weight control.
2.    Slows down the aging process.