A good night's sleep is one of the most effective remedies there is. It gives you more energy, helps you manage your stress, and increases your overall well-being. There are countless benefits to your system as well when you sleep for the 7-8 hours recommended by experts. Sleeping less negatively affects all functions of your body, from memory to your mood, and increases your risk of heart problems.
If you're still not convinced, here are the top 11 health benefits of sleep:
01. Sleep keeps your heart healthy.
Lack of sleep increases your chances of spending a lot of time in a cardiologist's office. Regularly depriving yourself of sleep can lead to an increase in stress hormones like cortisol. Such a rise forces your heart to work harder, suddenly not getting all the rest it needs.
02. It prevents weight gain.
Getting a good night's sleep won't necessarily make you lose weight, but it can help keep you from gaining weight. Lack of sleep increases the production of ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates appetite. By having less energy and being more prone to stress, a lack of sleep reduces your ability to resist your cravings for junk food.
03. It reduces the risk of traffic accidents.
Because lack of sleep affects your concentration and reaction time, driving a vehicle while tired can be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. Research confirms that people who sleep only 6-7 hours a night are twice as likely to be involved in an accident than people who sleep at least 8 hours a night. If you get less than 5 hours of sleep a night, your chances of being involved in a traffic accident quadruple.
04. Sleep strengthens your immune system.
Want to prevent injuries and take less sick leave? Get into the habit of getting a good night's sleep to keep your immune cells and immune system proteins on high alert. Good sleep also makes vaccines more effective.
05. It prevents your brain from "frying".
If a good night's sleep is linked to a high level of concentration and cognitive performance, one sleepless night and you will feel ineffective and disoriented the next day. Your memory is not as sharp as it used to be and everything you do seems to be in slow motion. You are more prone to making mistakes at work, but less alert to make and correct them.
06. It ignites your sex life.
07. It can prevent headaches.
If stress gives you a headache, getting good rest will help prevent it. Lack of sleep plays a role in your ability to cope with stress and anxiety, two factors that can lead to migraines.
08. It keeps you in shape for your workout.
A good night's sleep is like a natural supplement, improving your speed, coordination, reaction time, and muscle recovery. A lack of sleep, even in the short term, turns all of these factors upside down.
09. It strengthens your mood.
Remember the last time you slept very well: you probably woke up in a good mood, full of energy, less likely to see small daily challenges turn into sources of anger and frustration. Lack of sleep makes you more vulnerable to stress and anxiety, preventing you from getting good sleep the next night and quickly creating a vicious cycle. Avoid it all by simply getting to bed at a reasonable time every night.
10. Sleep increases your pain threshold.
If you want to be more tolerant of pain, get more sleep. In a 2012 study from the journal Sleep, the group who slept an average of 9 hours a night could sustain pain for up to 25% longer than the group who slept an average of 7 hours a night.
11. It affects your interpersonal relationships.
While lack of sleep can make you more irritable and cranky, it's no surprise that people who get little sleep are more prone to contention, with their ability to empathize especially affected.
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WELL-BEING AND NUTRITION