If you have an irrepressible desire to eat sweets, it's possible that you are getting little or not enough sleep

by Alison Forde

November 23, 2021

If you have an irrepressible desire to eat sweets, it's possible that you are getting little or not enough sleep
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Who doesn't like to eat sweets? Although we all know that over doing it is bad for your health, it is clear that if sweet and sugary pleasures did not exist in the world, life would be decidedly more bitter. In moments of sadness and great discomfort, we know that a chocolate bar, a slice of cake or a tasty pastry can make our day better in a flash. But have you ever spent periods of your life in which you have noticed that you have a frequent irrepressible desire to eat any type of dessert? It may not be just pure greed, but there could be much more behind it ...

via CNN

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According to a recent scientific study, an irrepressible desire to eat sweets of all kinds could be unsuspectedly linked to the quality of our sleep; in fact, research conducted by the Irving Medical Center of Columbia University, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, highlighted the link that can be created between poor sleep quality and the consumption of sweets or fatty foods. The study examined the dietary habits of about 500 US women in the age range of 20 to 76 and emphasized that those who complained of often having a bad night's sleep had consumed a large amount of sweets or desserts during the day and fatty foods above the recommended level.

In a nutshell, the study highlighted these facts: those who had a lower than average quality of sleep or suffered more from insomnia, consumed 500 to 800 more calories during the day, often consuming foods rich in saturated fat, processed sugars and caffeine compared to a diet characterized by whole grains and fiber.

 

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Son of Groucho/Flickr

Son of Groucho/Flickr

According to statements from Brooke Aggarwal, one of the authors of the study, "When we sleep much less or badly or suffer from insomnia, our hormones can stimulate our appetite, so much so that one of the consequences is that when we are tired we are more guided by emotions, and we make more instinctive and irrational decisions, such as bingeing on unhealthy food and seeking psychological comfort."

The researchers on this scientific study want to highlight the fact that the quality of our sleep is by no means of minor importance, indeed it is a fundamental aspect of our life and our mental and physical health. Everyone likes to eat a tasty dessert once in a while to give ourselves a treat, but please, let's not go overboard!

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