How lack of sleep leads to irritability, anxiety, depression, and obesity

(NaturalNews) Hormones are not just for sex. Hormones are chemical signals produced by the body's endocrine glands that regulate all kinds of bodily functions. Metabolism, mood, behavior, libido, immune function, growth, weight loss, and muscle gain are all strongly influenced by hormones. All of these hormones are needed at precise levels in the body.

Sleep helps to regulate the hormone cortisol. The right amount of cortisol enables us to metabolize proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. It is needed to regulate blood sugar and blood pressure. Even the immune system is dependent upon proper levels of cortisol for optimum functioning. But lack of sleep can cause the body to produce too much.

Excessive cortisol makes us irritable, anxious, and depressed. We put on extra weight and are even prone to insomnia, which creates a vicious cycle. Over the long term, very high levels of cortisol can do even more serious damage to our systems. Excessive levels of cortisol impair digestion, damage muscle and bone, interfere with healing and regeneration, disrupt mental functions, hinder immune response, and further disrupt the proper levels of other hormones in our bodies. The easiest, cheapest, and most natural way to regulate cortisol levels is to get adequate sleep.

Our bodies produce growth hormone when we are sleeping. This is the main hormone that stimulates children's bodies to grow. In adults, this is one of the hormones that helps to regulate muscle mass. Growth hormone also helps to control body fat. Like cortisol, too much is not a good thing. The best way to get the correct nightly dose of growth hormone is to get enough sleep every night.

Grehlin and leptin are additional hormones that are produced during sleep. Grehlin and leptin both play an important role in regulating our urge to eat. An out of control appetite is arguably the most crippling obstacle to controlling weight. Without adequate leptin, it is difficult to find satiety at the end of a meal. In order to get a properly balanced dose of these hormones, we need to get a full night's sleep. For more on hormones, see Balance Your Hormones.

If you suffer from insomnia, or a lack of quality sleep, check out the first few sources below along with Natural Remedies-for-Insomnia and How Insomnia-Leads to a Filthy Mind.

Sources:

http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com

http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com

http://scdlifestyle.com

http://sleepfoundation.org

http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu

The Seven Pillars of Health by Don Colbert M.D.

http://truthwiki.org/Vitamin_D

http://truthwiki.org/Vitamin_B5

About the author:
Joel learned long ago that pharmaceuticals were not the answer to health and vitality. He gave up on pharmaceuticals many years ago, and he also gave up wheat and refined sugars. His hobbies include gluten free baking, gardening, and fitness. Joel is passionate about agriculture and environmental issues. Joel believes that progressive, cutting-edge, organic agriculture can feed the world.