The Benefits of Sleep: Why You Need to Make Sleep a Priority Tonight

Sleep is fundamentally important to almost all aspects of our daily lives. The benefits that are derived from a quality sleep are sprinkled all over our lives. According to the prestigious Harvard Medical School, your body requires sleep in the same way that it needs food, drink and air.

• Keeps Your Heart Healthy

Sleep helps to reduce the levels of stress and inflammation in your body. High levels of inflammation are linked to heart disease and strokes. Sleep can also help keep blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control.

• Reduces Your Risk of Diabetes

A lack of sleep affects the way your body processes glucose which could lead to diabetes. A reduced sleep means you may process this glucose slower than normal.

• Repairs your Body

Your body produces extra protein molecules while you’re sleeping that helps strengthen your ability to fight infection and stay healthy.

• Sleep Reduces Stress

In today’s fast paced, modern world stress is going through the roof. It might have something to do with our lack of sleep. Sleep helps to slow the effects of stress on the body and encourage deeper relaxation.

• Leads to Better Performance

Whether you are trying to get that edge on the sporting field or in the office, a good sleep leaves you focused, refreshed and energised to make the most of your opportunities.

• Sleep Means a Better Memory

A poor sleep makes it difficult to concentrate and this often leads to memory problems. Getting a quality sleep is important because whilst you sleep your brain is organizing and processing knowledge and information.

• Sleep Manages Weight

Sleep helps regulate the hormones that affect and control your appetite. When your body is sleep deprived, it leads to an interruption in the hormone balance and increases your appetite.

• No More Mood Swings

When you become sleep deprived for the long-term it can lead to long-term mood disorders, most notably anxiety and even depression.

• Better Athletic Results

Sleep plays a role in protein synthesis, the release of Growth Hormone and gives you the necessary energy needed for another day of training. Sleep is the most important part of the recovery cycle and recovery is the period during which muscle growth occurs and will not take place without enough sleep.

It is clear that sleep is critical to our overall health and happiness.

Are you putting enough emphasis on your sleep?

(Photo Courtesy of atleta.com.au)