8 ways your body benefits from adequate sleep

importance of sleep goes unstated. In order to function well while awake, getting a good night’s sleep is a must. When we get sufficient sleep, our day-to-day living goes so much better. But the importance of sleep goes beyond simply banishing under-eye circles or feeling well-rested when we wake up. Achieving a healthy lifestyle and well-being thrives on obtaining adequate sleep. Getting the right amount of shut-eye benefits us more far more than we realize keeping us at our top-notch best.

More than ever, health professionals understand the health benefits adequate sleep provides. Here are 8 ways your body will benefit when you sleep like a baby each night:

1. Sharpens your memory

You may be surprised to know that while you sleep, your mind is very busy. This is when your mind works on strengthening and practicing skills you learned while awake. We may be learning a new language or practicing a golf swing, but when you get the sleep you need, you will learn those new skills much better.

2. Lengthens your life

Whether you sleep too little or too much, both are associated with a shorter lifespan. Sleeping less than five hours a night is associated with increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and a number of other conditions that end lives prematurely. But be careful – too much sleep, more than 8 hours, can increase your risk of stroke.

3. Reduces inflammation

Once again, too little sleep – less than 5 hours a night – can result in higher blood levels of inflammatory proteins. This increased inflammation can lead to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, and premature aging.

Studies have found that C-reactive protein, which is associated with heart attack risk, was higher in people who got less than 6 hours of sleep a night.

4. Improves athletic performance

Want to improve your athletic performance? Get enough sleep. This is according to research at Stanford University which found college football players who slept at least 10 hours a night tend to improve their average sprint time and have less daytime fatigue and more stamina. These same results have been found in tennis players and swimmers.

5. Weight loss is easier

To achieve a healthier body weight, being well rested is key. This is the message from researchers at the University of Chicago who found dieters who had adequate sleep lost more than fat mass than those who were sleep deprived who lost more muscle mass – both groups lost similar amounts of weight regardless of sleep. The dieters lacking sleep also felt hungrier and they produce higher levels of ghrelin, a hormone that triggers hunger and reduces energy expenditure.

6. Heart disease reduced

To reduce levels of cardiovascular disease, make sleep a priority. A good night’s sleep can do wonders for helping people control their blood pressure along with lowering cholesterol, both playing a significant role in heart disease.

7. Lowers chance of car crashes

One of the biggest causes of fatal single car crashes is due to drowsy driving. Getting behind the wheel of a vehicle to drive and excessive sleepiness is grossly underestimated as a problem by most people but the cost to society is enormous. Excessive tiredness affects reaction time and decision making. In fact, just one night of insufficient sleep can be as detrimental to your driving ability as having an alcoholic drink.

8. Better emotional stability when well rested

There are not too many things much better than a waking up from a night of adequate sleep. When our body is well rested, this can help to reduce feelings of anxiety leading to better emotional stability. When we feel good physically, this same good feeling extends to our mental health which means less depression and better self-esteem. The key is to keep a firm bedtime routine and schedule to get the sleep we each deserve.