Getting a good night's sleep is more important than we might realize. We all know how amazing it feels to wake up refreshed after a good night's sleep. But did you know that quality sleep goes beyond just feeling rested? It is also an essential component of our body's rejuvenation process.
In this article, we will explore some of the benefits of prioritizing quality sleep and how it can result in higher levels of productivity, concentration, healing, and overall recovery:
- Stabilized stress hormone levels in your system
- Increased memory and concentration
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduced inflammation
- Strengthened immune response
- A more stable appetite (and waistline!)
Sleep experts suggest that the average person requires 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep, whereas athletes could use 9 to 10.
Read on for 6 ways your body recovers during sleep:
1. Stabilized Stress Hormone Levels
Have you ever noticed how a lack of sleep can turn you into a grumpy bear? Well, it's not just a coincidence. With a lack of sleep, the amount of cortisol, the stress hormone in your system, increases. Cortisol is an essential hormone that affects many organs as well as stress levels. Just like a tired toddler in need of a nap, adults can also experience irritability, moodiness, and irrational behavior when sleep deprived.
Quality sleep is not only essential for physical recovery, but also for refreshing and rebalancing our mental and emotional states. So, if you want to keep stress at bay and embrace a happier you, it's time to prioritize quality shut eye.
2. Increased Memory and Concentration
When you sleep, your body may be resting, but your brain is working diligently to organize and store memories from the day. Have you ever struggled to remember something important or found it difficult to concentrate on tasks? Well, lack of quality sleep could be to blame.
Quality sleep allows our brain to do its job properly, enabling us to perform better in various cognitive tasks. If you want to boost your memory and stay focused throughout the day, those precious hours of slumber are key.
3. Lower Blood Pressure
Consistently depriving our bodies of sufficient sleep keeps them on high alert for extended periods, potentially affecting the cardiovascular system. Higher blood pressure increases your chances of heart attacks and strokes, whereas getting plenty of restful, restorative sleep encourages a constant state of calm during the day.
Sleep is one of the pillars of achieving and maintaining good health, along with nutrition and exercise. When our body is tired and we continue throughout our day as usual, our systems are too stressed to be alert, upright and functional. Sleep is not a luxury, but an essential requirement for our organs to function optimally for a lifetime of good health.
4. Reduced Inflammation
Sleep plays a crucial role in the body's repair process. It produces extra proteins that help fight off infections and keep our muscles and blood vessels healthy. Restful sleep helps decrease inflammation and prepares the body for optimal performance the next day. If we are not giving our body enough snooze time, cells are not functioning at warp speed (or at any speed, for that matter). While we sleep, we get out of the way of the body’s natural ability to heal and recuperate quicker.
5. A Strengthened Immune System
Sleep is like a superhero for our immune system. While we sleep, our body produces extra proteins that strengthen our ability to fight off infections. Time heals everything, as the saying goes. Well, sleep helps you repair everything, too.
If you want to give your immune system a fighting chance, think of sleep as your body's defense mechanism against stress, exhaustion, and pesky viruses.
6. Stable appetite… and weight
Ever noticed how lack of sleep can leave you reaching for unhealthy snacks throughout the day? Well, there's a scientific reason behind it. When we don't get enough quality sleep, our hunger hormones get thrown off balance. It increases ghrelin, the hormone that makes us hungry and crave unhealthy foods, while reducing leptin, the hormone that helps suppress appetite. No wonder we find ourselves reaching for sugary snacks when we're tired!
If you're aiming for a stable appetite and a healthy weight, don't overlook the importance of those ZZZs.
Recover Well, Perform Better
The body is a machine – it recovers while we sleep – period. As we maintain our cars regularly to ensure they are operating optimally, we need to maintain our bodies, too. In conclusion, quality sleep is not just a luxury; it's an essential component of a healthy, complete recovery process. By prioritizing quality sleep, we can experience a multitude of benefits in our daily lives.
If you are not getting the best sleep, or wake up not feeling restored, perhaps it’s time to seek out a new mattress or pillow. Come visit us in-store, where one of our Sleep experts would be happy to help you find the best ones to suit your needs!