Insufficient sleep could lead to weight gain

The week of March 7-13 is National Sleep Awareness Week, a national initiative to remind Americans of the health benefits of a good night's sleep. What many people may not know is that a recent study by the University of Chicago and Columbia has found that people who sleep five hours per night have a 50 percent higher chance of becoming obese, according to NapsNet.com.

Additionally, the researchers have found that people who sleep six hours have a 23 percent greater risk of obesity than their counterparts that sleep a full seven to nine hour night. This lack of shuteye will lead to the release of the hormone cortisol, which can lead to early-morning hunger pangs.

The best way to get a good night's sleep is to establish a consistent bedtime and to use room-darkening shades in your bedroom. These items will help you fall asleep faster and reach a deeper sleep that will help you feel refreshed the next day.

Blinds Chalet believes all of their customers deserve their rest, so they have offered a $25 rebate on each order of room-darkening SlumberShades until March 31st.