How to Boost Metabolism: What Sleep Does To Our Health

Are you satisfied with the amount of sleep you get every night? Five hours of sleep each night could be a pipe dream for new parents while others may need a full eight-plus hours of shut-eye just to function.

Sleep quality involves many issues, including how long it takes to fall asleep, how many times you wake up throughout the night, and how rested you feel when you wake up in the morning.

But did you know that while our awareness shuts down during sleep, our brain and body do not? Many processes work hard through the night since sleep provides major restoration to the body’s cells and tissues, helping them to recover from day-to-day wear and tear.

Insufficient sleep even increases our risk of developing medical conditions, including obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Lack of adequate sleep has even been associated with a shortened lifespan.

Obesity – the “other” epidemic

As mentioned, lack of sleep has long been linked to obesity. One study found that people who regularly slept fewer than six hours per night were much more likely to have excess body weight, while people who slept an average of eight hours per night had the lowest relative body fat of the study group. 

From the International Journal of Endocrinology, we learn that sleep loss has a significant impact on metabolism. Laboratory studies clearly show that sleep deprivation can alter glucose metabolism and the hormones involved in regulating metabolism - decreased leptin levels and increased ghrelin and cortisol levels. Meaning - you’re more likely to hang on to fat.

To sum it up, a boost to metabolism can help you achieve weight loss, and weight loss can help you sleep better – and sleeping better can improve metabolism… and so on, and so on. 

Sleep and Weight Loss

So, if you sleep more, you’ll weigh less? Not exactly.

It isn’t that sleeping more is the secret for how to lose weight, but rather that too little sleep impedes metabolism.

When "metabolically groggy," your brain and body don't respond properly to insulin and have trouble processing fats from your bloodstream. As a result, the body ends up storing the fat, a contributing  cause of weight gain.

We need to do all we can with your lifestyle habits to support a full and uninterrupted night’s sleep. 

Health and Nutrition – How to Improve Health

The Almased formula is low-glycemic high protein (LGHP) food-sourced nutrition from enzyme-rich, raw honey, and fermented with amino acids that come from both plants and live-cultured yogurt.

The low glycemic index of Almased helps you maintain a healthy blood sugar level after a meal.

One of the unique aspects of Almased is that it provides a complete amino acid profile containing an estimated 80 bioactive peptides. 

The Almased Figure Plan

The Almased Figure Plan centers on the impact of natural good health and nutrition through meal replacement choice. The Plan ranges from rapid but safe weight loss to the least restrictive program you can do to get the results you want.

Almased developed the Figure Plan to help outfox a slow metabolism in four easy-to-do steps. You can drink one, two or three Almased shakes a day as a full meal replacement for weight loss. 

When you’ve achieved your ideal weight, drink just one Almased shake daily, or as needed, for weight maintenance and general wellness. 

Foods that boost your metabolism while sleeping

While sleep is a crucial component of maintaining a healthy metabolism, it’s not the only way. You can support your body's metabolic functions during the night simply by choosing metabolism-boosting foods. Here are some nighttime metabolism boosters to consider incorporating into your diet:

1. Lean Protein: Consuming lean protein sources before bedtime can help your body repair and rebuild muscle tissues. Keep in mind that consuming higher amounts of protein isn’t the only thing that matters, but also consuming the right ratio of amino acids and not only the amount of protein. High-quality protein, consisting of different amino acids in varying amounts, promotes muscle growth and repair, which in turn can rev up your metabolism. With Almased, you get 24 grams of high-quality protein in only one shake. Almased provides a complete amino acid profile and contains L-tryptophan, which assists with the sleep cycle and serotonin production, promoting relaxation and sleep.

2. High-Fiber Foods: High-fiber foods like whole grains, seeds, vegetables, and fruits are beneficial to your metabolism. That’s because fiber aids in digestion and helps regulate blood sugar levels, preventing sugar crashes during the night – which can improve your sleep quality. Simply add a tablespoon of flax- or chia seeds to your Almased shake to easily boost your daily intake of fiber

3. Complex Carbohydrates: Including complex carbohydrates in your evening meal can help stabilize blood sugar levels and provide a steady source of energy throughout the night. Looking for a simple solution? Almased has 15 grams of low-glycemic carbs in each serving. The carbs are slowly absorbed, keeping your blood sugar levels and insulin levels balanced, so you can easily burn fat overnight. 

4. Healthy Fats: While consuming large amounts of fat before bedtime is not advisable, a moderate amount of healthy fats provide your body with essential fatty acids. Consider adding a teaspoon of canola or flaxseed oil to your Almased shake for a dose of healthy fats. Did you know that healthy (unsaturated fatty acids) support a normal inflammatory response?

5. Herbal Teas: Herbal teas like our calming and stress-relieving Almased Wellness Tea can aid in relaxation and improve sleep quality, indirectly benefiting your metabolism by helping you unwind to set the stage a good night's rest. Additionally, the Almased Wellness tea has antioxidative and cardioprotective properties that help detoxify the body overnight, promoting overall well-being.