MOSCOW, 6 Feb - PRIME. Lack of sleep can lead to unreasonable sugar cravings and overeating. This was stated by scientists after the study, according to Politics Today.
It is noted that most often people who work at night are guilty of this. Sleep deprivation has a direct impact on the brain's endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for olfactory function.
American scientists conducted an experiment involving a group of volunteers. Some of the people were asked to sleep 8 hours a night for a month, and another group - only 4 hours. As a result, the group of subjects with constant sleep deprivation had an increased level of the network of molecules that affect the endocannabinoid system. Even in the absence of a feeling of hunger, they chose exclusively high-calorie foods.
The researchers continued the test and began using MRI to monitor the activity of the part of the cerebral cortex that is responsible for smelling. They were able to prove that in people with lack of sleep, the brain reacted much more actively to smells of food, although the person was not hungry. This showed a direct link between brain function and cravings for sugary high-calorie foods. The less a person rests, the stronger the desire to eat sweets.
