Night owls in the crosshairs for DEADLY diseases (Study)
Do you consider yourself a night owl?
Maybe you enjoy watching your favorite TV show in peace and quiet… or maybe you like catching up on the evening news?
No harm, no foul – right?
Because maybe you wake up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed the next morning despite your propensity to stay up past your bed time.
But even if you seem to function just fine… new studies confirm that being a night owl can put your health at SERIOUS risk.
Here’s what you need to know… and why you’ll want to start getting to bed earlier!
A new study published in the journal Experimental Physiology found that “night owls” are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes or heart disease than folks who get to bed and wake up early.
Here’s what researchers concluded about night owls compared to early sleepers:
- They are less active than early birds
- They are less sensitive to insulin
- They are worse at using fat for energy which can lead to being overweight or obese – which are both risk factors for diabetes and heart disease.
As for the early birds?
The study found they overall are more reliant on fat for energy… more active in the day… and more aerobically fit…
Which are all habits that will lower your risk of disease.
The average person goes to bed around 10 p.m., but the “best” sleepers swear by getting to bed early… and even narrowed down the best time to do so.
According to a national survey conducted by OnePoll, those who claim they get excellent sleep get to sleep at 9:39 p.m.
That’s an ultra-specific time to go to sleep, but it’s been deemed that ‘sweet spot.’
The poll found that even for the best sleepers, quality sleep environments (i.e., minimal light, comfy blankets, etc.) and a consistent routine leading up to sleep (i.e., putting away screens or reading a book) were a key component to getting good sleep.
If you need a little help getting into that sleep zone at the right time, consider natural sleep aids, like…
- melatonin, the “sleep hormone” that regulates sleep/wake cycles
- 5-HTP, a form of tryptophan (the substance in turkey that makes you sleepy)
- valerian, a sedative herb that increases your supply of the calming neurotransmitter GABA, and
- enzyme-treated asparagus stem extract, which helps banish stress.
To restful nights and healthy bodies,
Sarah Reagan
Sources:
Study Finds. “Night owls more likely to develop diabetes and heart disease than early birds.” https://studyfinds.org/night-owls-diabetes-heart-disease/
