5 Things You Need to Know About Sleep and Your Health
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If you’ve started your journey to better health and a happier life, you’ve likely made some commitments to eat smarter and get moving. What you may not have considered is a commitment to getting enough sleep!
It’s no secret that you really have to hustle to ensure you have time to prep your meals, get to the gym or work out at home, be productive at work and maintain any semblance of a social life. With so many things to do to improve your lifestyle, it’s not uncommon to neglect your time to recharge. But I promise, a commitment to sufficient sleep can change everything for the better.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you could be spending your time on much more valuable things than sleep, but consider these 5 health benefits the next time you feel guilty for catching a few extra Zs:
1. Sleep can improve your brain’s functionality during the day
While it’s tempting to squeeze in a few extra hours of productivity at work or at the gym, it’s important to get enough sleep to keep your brain healthy and rested. Sleep allows your cells and tissues to recover from the wear and tear of daily life, which impacts more than your physical activity. Your work and projects will also benefit from your decision to prioritize your rest with increased focus and productivity.
2. Sufficient sleep can reduce your risk for chronic diseases
In addition to managing your diet and exercise routine, getting enough sleep can help reduce your risk for chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension, which can all lead to more serious conditions like chronic kidney disease or end stage renal disease. Research has shown that with improved sleep, you can regulate your blood sugar levels, reduce symptoms of high creatinine, and reduce the effects of these diseases.
3. Sleep can improve your immune system
The body repairs itself in many ways, and some of these functions occur exclusively while we sleep, such as tissue repair, muscle growth and protein synthesis. Irregular sleeping patterns have been proven to negatively impact your immune system, limiting these repair functions and weakening your body’s ability to fight off illnesses like the common cold or the flu. Research continues to explore the relationship between infections and sleep patterns, but experts say regardless, getting at least eight hours of sleep can help you fight off illnesses.
4. Getting enough sleep can help you lose weight
That’s right – sleep deficiencies have been linked to weight gain in several studies. According to the research, those who slept less than six hours per night were more likely to have excess body weight and those who got at least eight hours of sleep each night had the lowest relative body fat of the study group. This is because insufficient sleep can alter your levels of specific hormones involved in processes like metabolism and appetite.
5. Sleep can reduce stress
Finally, getting enough sleep on a daily basis can reduce your overall stress level, which can impact both your physical and mental health. Sleep scientists have studied the relationship between sleep and stress for years and have discovered that insufficient amounts of sleep have a negative impact on the hormones that control our stress responses. If you’d like to reduce your stress during the day, try adding an extra hour or two to your sleep cycle.
Living a healthy lifestyle includes more than adjusting your diet and getting enough exercise. It also means listening to your body and giving it time to recover and recharge. If you truly value your sleep and prioritize times of rest, you’ll accomplish more throughout the day and feel great.
