Japanese Women: Catch Catnaps They’re an on-the-go group, but folks in Japan make time for daily 20 to 30 minute naps whenever possible, say sleep researchers at Cornell University. Turns out, taking a catnap every day — or, alternatively, adding half an hour onto your nightly slumber — could help you effortlessly shed two pounds each month, studies at the University of Chicago show. Why it Works: Well-rested people burn body fat more quickly and efficiently, plus they eat up to 15 percent fewer calories without even realizing it, say study authors. “We’re not sure yet why, but when you slog around exhausted, your body responds by slowing your metabolism and by producing ghrelin — a hormone that gives you a bad case of the munchies,” explains Cornell University sleep researcher James B. Maas, Ph.D. “So the key to losing weight is often as simple as making time for more shut-eye!” Source by StubbedMyToe