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Is too much sleep bad for your health? This is the first study to show that even small differences in sleep schedules can increase the proportion of harmful gut bacteria – iStock/Getty Images
A study carried out in England and published in the specialized publication European Journal Of Nutrition reveals that, although curling up in bed is always tempting, especially on weekends, the habit can lead to possible health problems.
According to researchers from King’s College, from London, experiencing changes in your biological clock over the weekend can result in inflammation in your intestines. According to the results, this happens because extra rest time, combined with other bad habits, causes changes in the intestinal microbiota associated with serious diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s. To this end, according to nutritionist Wendy Hall, one of the authors of the research carried out by King’s College, waking up just 1h30 later than usual can be harmful.
Why is sleeping too much bad for your health?
Another study conducted by the company called ZOE Predict evaluated 934 people undergoing nutritional and health monitoring. During the experiment, blood and fecal samples were analyzed, revealing that those who slept 90 minutes longer were already suffering from health problems, especially among those who tend to be on “social jet lag”.
They use the term to refer to common behavior on weekends, characterized by the intake of ultra-processed, sugary and high-calorie foods, as well as the consumption of alcohol. According to the results, adding extra sleep to the equation results in an increase in three of the six most harmful species of gut bacteria. The research also indicates that the majority of participants in “social jet lag” were young men. The authors believe that around 40% of the population has similar habits, sleeping at least an hour more per day on weekends.
