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13 Mar, 2019

10 Reasons Why Sleep Is So Important

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Getting a good night’s sleep is so important for your health. In fact, it’s just as important as eating healthy and exercising. Yet, we’re all busier than ever and a good night’s sleep seems like just a fond, distant memory.

Well maybe it’s time to redress the balance and here’s 10 good reasons why:

  1. Not getting quality sleep can make you fat

It’s a proven fact that people with short or interrupted sleep patterns tend to weigh significantly more than those who get adequate sleep. So, you may think that going to bed at midnight and hoping out of bed to attend the gym at 6am makes you a champion; but it doesn’t, it can potentially make you fat.

  1. Good sleep = less calories

Sleep deprivation reduces the level of the hormone that regulates hunger and appetite; hence the appetite goes up and we all know how easy it is to grab a ‘sugar hug’ when tired; whether a latte, doughnut, or sometimes both!

  1. Helps improve concentration and increase productivity

A rested brain is ready to tackle whatever the day throws its way; a tired brain is ready to, errr, sleep. Did you know that lack of sleep can negatively impact some aspects of your brain function to a similar degree as being drunk? Rid yourself of this sleep induced hangover and you’ll be on fire!

  1. Maximise athletic performance

Sleep is key to athletic performance. Not only does it give your body time to recover, conserve energy, and repair and build up the muscles worked during exercise, it also means you tackle your next workout refreshed and raring to go!

  1. Reduces risk of heart disease and stroke

People who don’t get enough sleep are at far greater risk of heart disease or stroke than those who sleep 7–8 hours per night. Regular sleep patterns can help to lower the levels of stress and inflammation to your cardiovascular system, which in turn can reduce your chances of a stroke or heart condition.

  1. Affects metabolism

Poor sleep habits are also strongly linked to adverse effects on blood sugar When sleep deprived, the metabolic system is thrown out of balance, which ultimately affects the dietary choices people make. We refer you back to the latte and doughnut scenario…

  1. Reduces depression

Mental health issues, such as depression, are strongly linked to poor sleep quality and sleeping disorders. Normal sleep is a restorative state. However, when sleep is disrupted or inadequate, it can lead to increased tension, vigilance, and irritability. Poor sleep can lead to fatigue. With fatigue, you exercise less and that leads to a decline in your fitness level and it becomes a vicious cycle.

  1. Improves your immune function

Even a small loss of sleep has been shown to affect your immune system. Did you know that those who sleep less than 7 hours a night are almost three times more likely to catch a cold than those who sleep for more than 8 hours.

Fight back, get more sleep.

  1. Increased inflammation

Sleep can have a major effect on inflammation in your body. In fact, sleep loss is known to activate inflammation of the digestive tract, in disorders known as inflammatory bowel diseases and increases the risk of recurring issues.

  1. Affects emotions and social interactions

Sleep loss reduces your ability to interact socially; making you less able to pick up on expressions or social cues.It can also make the day very difficult if you are in a job based on a need for good communication skills; people can tell when you’re not tuned in; that’s unless they’re tired too!

So, there you have 10 good reasons to get more sleep.

Sleep tight!

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