The average person spends about one-third of their life sleeping. Sleep is one of the most important yet most ignored factors that influence your health. Not only is a good night’s sleep important so you don’t feel tired but it has other effects on your health too. Here is a list of 5 health benefits of sleeping you may not know.
1. Weight loss. Consistently getting 8 hours a night of sleep is an easy and effective weight loss plan. Getting plenty of sleep boosts your metabolism and decreases appetite and cravings.
2. Quicker healing. Your body heals and repairs during sleep. Getting enough sleep gives your immune system the resources it needs to heal quickly and to fight off illnesses.
3. A better mood. Sleep plays a huge role in your hormonal balance. Getting a good night’s sleep regularly improves depression, anxiety and mood swings.
4. Improved memory and learning. A sleep deprived person cannot focus so they have a hard time learning and remembering during the day. But those issues carry over into the night as well. Research suggests that part of the learning process as well as memory formation occur while you are sleeping. Getting plenty of rest helps your focus during the day while you are getting the information and also your ability to remember it later.
5. Lower blood pressure. There are studies that correlate sleeping more than 8 hours a night with a decrease in blood pressure compared to subjects that slept less than 8 hours. Sleeping well helps your body to regulate stress hormones and decrease inflammation resulting in lower blood pressure. This is great news for your heart and circulation.
Sleeping well is awesome for your health! It can help you to be trim, lower blood pressure, ward off colds, have a good mood and be smarter. Sound good to you? Check out my previous blog 5 Little Known Tips for Sleeping Like a Baby.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Kathleen Voortmann
by:Dr. Childress