Your body produces a growth hormone called Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) while you are sleeping. And this hormone does your body a world of good.

Here's how sleep can help you stay pretty, slim and smart...

Get Refreshed

While you run around all day, working late and attending PTA meetings, your body spends all the oxygen you breathe in.

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But when you sleep, the oxygenation process is at it's peak because there is no activity. So your body is getting refreshed with the oxygen supply. The stored oxygen helps keep your tissues, muscles and bones in shape.

Before the end of the day your body's supply of oxygen is used up. So if you don't get a good night's sleep, you are actually depriving your body of oxygen to a great extent and are likely to feel drained the next day.

If your body does not get enough oxygen, it will not produce the energy for metabolism. As a result, your metabolic rate reduces and toxic wastes accumulate in your body. Apart from that, your thinking process is slowed and you may even become non-reflexive due to the lack of oxygen supply to your brain.

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Reduce Hunger Pangs

The hormone Leptin is responsible for suppressing appetite and the Grehlin hormone increases the urge to eat. Once you have eaten enough, your body releases Leptin and you won't feel hungry anymore.

However, lack of sleep reduces the level of Leptin in your body and increases the level of Grehlin instead. So, you are likely to have constant hunger pangs and eat much more than you should. The slow metabolic rate will only add to your weight gain.

Also Read: Obesity Linked to Less Sleep