There’s a molecule in the bloodstream called 2-AG that contributes to the pleasurable sensation of eating, much like the cannabinoids in marijuana. The circulating levels of 2-AG are typically lowest in the middle of the night and peak in the early afternoon. In a recent study, young adults had higher afternoon 2-AG blood levels after getting only four and a half hours of sleep than after a full night’s rest. If you find yourself running for the chips at 3 o’clock every day, try keeping those hunger molecules in check with a good eight hours in the sack every night.

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