Think back to your last night of restless sleep. Did you make poor food decisions the next day? According to a study from UC Berkely, there may be a connection involving the relationship between the brain, sleep habits and food choices.
UC Berkeley scientists examined the brains of 23 subjects and found impaired activity in the sleep-deprived brain’s frontal lobe (the region that controls decision-making) and increased activity in the deeper regions that respond to rewards. The scientists found a link between altered brain activity related to lack of sleep and the selection of unhealthy foods over healthier options. So, people who are sleep deprived may make poor food choices as a result.
This combination could explain why people who sleep less or have difficulty sleeping tend to be overweight, according to Matthew Walker, UC Berkeley professor of psychology and neuroscience and senior author of the study.
What does this mean for you? Next time you’re tempted to stay up late watching your favorite TV series or reading your favorite book, remember that it could come back to bite you tomorrow in the form of poor food choices. Those extra Zs may be more valuable than you think!