The next time you feel positively starving, consider this: you might just be starved for sleep. People feel hungrier and reach for larger portions when they skimp on sleep, according to a new Uppsala University study.
Researchers asked 16 men to select the ideal serving size of meals and snacks before and after they ate breakfast on two separate mornings: once after sleeping for eight hours, and again after they didn’t sleep at all. As it happened, the sleepy guys picked larger portions of all the foods before they ate breakfast. They also were more likely to reach for snack foods—even after a morning meal.
Previous studies have shown that when you stay awake all night, your body burns about 7 percent more calories. So it makes sense that sleep-deprived people compensate by eating a little bit more. But there’s another reason you’re likely to crave salty, sweet, or savory snacks instead of a wholesome meal when you’re tired: Sleep deprivation makes the brain more sensitive to the rewarding properties of food, says study author Pleunie Hogenkamp, Ph.D. Meaning: When your eyelids droop, temping foods seem much more delicious, so you’re more likely to want them in larger quantities.
The best way to prevent your eyes from becoming larger than your stomach is to get sufficient sleep. And when your work schedule (or Homeland marathon habit) interferes with your bedtime? Manage morning hunger pangs with a protein-rich, high-fiber breakfast that includes healthy fats, like quinoa with almond milk, a tablespoon of chopped almonds, and a hard-boiled egg on the side, says Women’s Health nutrition expert Keri Glassman, R.D.
More from Women’s Health:
How Your Diet Impacts Your Sleep
How to Sleep With a Man (and Actually Sleep)
9 Natural Ways to Get More Energy
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