“Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together”—Thomas Dekker.
A good night’s sleep is one of life’s real pleasures and unfortunately a luxury that tends to fall to the bottom of everyone’s priorities.
Countless studies have established that at least seven hours of sleep is essential for optimal functioning of mind, body and spirit, yet an average adult has around six hours of lie-ins at night while over 30 percent regularly battle insomnia or other sleep disorders.
It’s easy to deal with the fallout of getting insufficient sleep by feeling bleary eyed and dozing off at odd hours, but what you may not realize is that it’s domino effect is much more dangerous than just feeling tired.
Skimping on sleep heightens the risk for a variety of major illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, work problems such as performance issues and reduced productivity.
The importance of getting adequate shut eye at night goes way beyond banishing under eye circles, improving mood and setting you up for a brighter day. We at Medguru showcase some other health benefits of a good night’s slumber!
Makes you Happier
A good night’s sleep can actually enhance mood leaving one feeling positive and upbeat. People who suffer from regular sleep disturbances are less receptive to positive emotions, which in turn can cause misery during the day and trigger depression.
Helps Maintain Weight
Adequate shut eye at night plays a vital role in energy metabolism. Disruption of a healthy sleep cycle can increase levels of the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin, resulting in more food consumption without a similar increase in energy expenditure. For someone that is struggling to control or even maintain a healthy their weight, it may pay to sleep well.
Boosts Immunity
Lack of proper sleep can weaken the immune system, increasing the body’s ability to fight off viruses that cause colds and flu. Erratic sleep disrupts regulation of key chemicals produced by the immune system to combat infection.
Spurs Creativity
Proper sleep gives a fresh supply of energy to your brain cells. It sharpens memory and increases creativity. That’s why, when you reach a dead-lock, all you need is to just ”sleep on it” to process and assimilate new knowledge to wake up with a great idea.
Anti-Ageing
Regular shut eye will make you attractive and definitely slow down the ageing process. A sound sleep is perhaps the best way to slowdown free-radical damage in the body.
Improves Digestion
Sleep deprivation and built up tension can sometimes erode the lining of your stomach. Consequently, the digestive juices will not be secreted in time and you will suffer from chronic indigestion.
Remember, sleep is an important part of your body clock, which if ignored has the potential to create a vicious cycle of deteriorating health. We should make a conscious effort to pay as much attention to good quality sleep as we do to other healthy activities like exercise and eating right, because they are all linked together.
