Prioritize Rest: Embrace the Benefits of More Sleep
When we’re trying to stay healthy, most of us, myself included, usually focus on eating right and staying active. We know that keeping moving each day and choosing nutritious foods, like more veggies and quality proteins, are key to a healthy lifestyle. But there’s another crucial part we often overlook—sleep.
We all enjoy sleeping, even if we dread getting out of our comfy beds in the morning—who doesn’t? Beyond feeling groggy in the morning, getting enough sleep every night can significantly impact our well-being.
From boosting your immune system and helping maintain a healthy weight to sharpening your cognitive functions, sleep really helps heal both your body and mind.
Want a simple way to ward off the common cold? A recent study involving fruit flies found that the more they slept, the better they resisted and recovered from illness. One reason might be that during sleep, there are fewer disruptions to the immune system than when we’re awake. So, next time you feel a cold coming on, consider taking a long nap!
If you’re working out and eating right, getting the right amount of sleep can enhance the effectiveness of your healthy lifestyle. Research indicates that keeping regular sleep and wake times can impact your body fat. People who maintained consistent sleep schedules and slept 6.5 to 8.5 hours a night tended to have less body fat, although it might not be the same for everyone. Still, it shows how sleep can help your body run at its best fat-burning rate!
If you’re feeling forgetful as you age, like misplacing your keys or wallet, ensure you’re getting enough sleep. Sleep can improve your brain’s health by strengthening connections and helping process memories. It enables your mind to turn daily events into useful memories, leading to a healthier, sharper mind.
Okay, we get it—sleep is important! But how much do you really need each night?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that adults aim for 7-8 hours while teenagers should get 9-10 hours. So next time you feel under the weather or need a memory boost, remember to prioritize sufficient sleep. How many hours are you getting each night?
