According to a new sleep study done by Northwestern University, it has been proven that a lack of sleep can make it difficult to maintain a healthy body weight. A good night’s rest goes hand in hand with a healthy diet, and it has been proven more times than not. Women who got only 4 hours of sleep per night ate 329 more calories than they would have had they got a good night’s rest. This study was done by St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital. Here are a few tips to get better sleep to help your diet…

1. Make Breakfast Your Heaviest Meal
Digesting food takes energy, so if you have a heavy meal late in the day, your body will have to work hard to digest it while you’re trying to sleep, potentially keeping you awake. Aim to eat balanced meals throughout the day instead.

2. Sip Smartly
Limit alcohol within 3 hours of bedtime. A cocktail helps you nod off initially, but may disrupt your sleep later on, as the alcohol is metabolized and its sedating effects wear off.

3. Cool Off
Set your thermostat between 60 and 65 degrees F. It’ll help nudge your internal temperature down—a key ingredient to deep and restful sleep.

4. Clock Out
If you can’t nod off, turn your clock around so you can’t stare at it. The constant reminder that you’re running out of time adds sleep-robbing stress.

If you have any questions or comments email me at klarson@cwhwichita.com or visit our Facebook page which you can access through our website.

Be happy and healthy!

Kyle