4. Lack of Sleep

Shift workers often do not get as many hours of sleep over the 24 hour period as a person working typical hours. Inadequate sleep may be another cause of insulin resistance and there is also a well known link between sleep deprivation and elevated cortisol levels. According to the National Sleep Foundation, we used to sleep an average of 10 hours a night in 1910 and today we average 7 hours a night. The physiological sleep ideal is 8 hours 15 minutes of sleep in complete darkness. Not enough sleep will result in impaired glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. People that do not get enough sleep also have lower levels of melatonin. Melatonin is an important antioxidant and is converted to serotonin in the brain.

4. Lack of Sleep

© Nicole Webb, Nutritionist /Stand Six, 2008