Study Shows that Sleep can Help Weight Loss …

Sleep Linked to Weight Loss

A recent study shows that there may be a link between losing weight and sleeping. This study included two groups of overweight individuals who sleep in a sleep lab for two separate periods of two weeks. Their diet was kept the same, but the amount of hours they slept for these periods was changed. For one period, the subjects slept for 8 ½ hours and in another period they slept for 5 ½ hours.

What they found was that subjects lost around the same weight, but during the 5 ½ hour period they lost more muscle compared to fat.

The study was by the Annals of Internal Medicine. Kristina Sargent, D.C. from ChicagoHealers.com provides tips for sleeping and health.

Additional Reading Resources:

• How to Choose the Right Neck Pillow
• Neck Exercises
• When Lack of Sleep Can be Deadly
• 6 ways to get a better nights sleep

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief. Bookmark this on Delicious Stumble It!

The Top 10 Reasons Why you need to have a good cervical support pillow

Sleep is very important and for good sleep you need a good cervical support pillow. I am not talking about the flat standard pillow you sleep on everyday. Today I want to discuss 10 reasons why you need to have a good neck pillow when sleeping:

1. For proper support of the head and neck while you sleep
   
2. Wake up pain free, because your head and neck are not in a uncomfortable awkward position
   
3. Breathe properly while you are sleeping
   
4. Maintain the proper cervical curvature while sleeping ( on your side or on your back)
   
5. For a sound sleep at night, allowing your body to get the proper rest that it needs after a stressful day
   
6. Prevents headaches and stiff neck
   
7. Improves circulation by decreasing pressure points in the lower neck area
   
8. Maintains flexibility in the neck with good range of motion when you wake up
   
9. Allows you to get into a deep sleep that includes REM Sleep- so that your body can heal properly
   
10. Maintains good posture while you are sleeping for your head, neck and upper back area
    

Visit Arc4life to view the most recommended cervical neck pillows.

The skinny on being happier, healthier and lighter- Better Sleep

A recent Readers Digest Article (October 2007) caught my eye- and it anything BUT put me to Sleep. The importance of getting a good night sleep cannot be over rated. So many reasons to make sure you get to bed on time:

1. It will keep you healthier- People who sleep less tend to have higher blood pressure. A lack of sleep has been linked to an increased risk of heart attack and increase in weight. People who sleep live longer and just live better. Click here to read more
   
2. Sleep will make you look better and feel better - One of the main reasons is that it will keep your hormone levels higher- especially growth hormones. Click here to read more
   
3. Sleep will keep you happier- People who don't sleep produce an increased amount of stress hormones creating a body that is always in a "hyper" state. A lack of sleep can bring on depression and vice versa. Click here to read more.
   
4. Sleep will make you Smarter- Not sleeping can affect concentration and problem solving skills. Just like drinking too much, not sleeping can have the same effect on you physically and cognitively. Click here to read more.
   
5. Sleep will help control your Weight- There is an obesity epidemic in the United States- one the reasons is the lack of sleep. It can affect what you decide to eat. Insomniacs tend to crave food high in carbohydrates and sugar. Mainly because sleep loss decreases insulin sensitivity, putting an individual at a higher risk for type 2 diabetes. This can cause a decrease in metabolism and an increase in appetite. Loss of sleep decreases the levels of a hormone called leptin but increases ghrelin (hormone that makes you feel hungry. Click here to read more.
   

So to be healthier, happier and lighter do everything you can to make sure you get the proper amount of sleep every night. You spend 1/3 of your life sleeping- are you getting the most out of it? We will discuss each of the above facts in more detail in the next few posts. Also we will discuss ways to make sure you get proper sleep. S