3 Surprising Benefits of Good Sleep
By Genevieve Cunningham
Good sleep really can't be beat. There's nothing like a good deep rest to make you feel refreshed and energized. The harsh and unfortunate truth is that most people don't actually get the rest that they need. When this happens, most of us think we're missing out on that rested feeling, but we're not missing much else, right? As it turns out, this simply isn't true. Good sleep brings multiple benefits into our lives, and many of those might actually surprise you. If you're guilty of skipping sleep, take a look at these surprising reasons to get more in your life as soon as tonight.
Weight Loss
This benefit alone is probably enough for a lot of people to hit the hay at a decent time. When we're not getting enough sleep, it causes our stress hormone to rise. And the stress hormone is notorious for contributing to extra weight around the middle. Getting the proper amount of sleep -- whatever that is for your body -- can help balance your hormones and make the weight loss process easier.
Pain Relief
Sleep really relaxes the body. And when we're finally able to relax, the body releases pent-up tension. Tension, in many cases, causes pain. This is often noticed in the back, neck, and joints, but it can be anywhere in the body. By getting proper rest, we enable our bodies to fight off the pain and heal. If you regularly suffer from pain, try improving your bedtime habits, and you may notice a significant decline in discomfort.
Less Illness
The immune system functions at its best when the body is well rested. When we run around on little to no sleep, every system suffers, and the immune system is absolutely no exception. By getting more sleep, you strengthen the immune system and enable your body to fight off illness. This means you get sick less often, and by default, you feel better most of the time. This is a bonus that might come in handy during cold and flu season, but since illness doesn't discriminate by season, it may also come in handy the whole year through.
We need sleep. We like to think that we can do without it, but when we take this approach, we suffer. Make sure that you're getting the sleep that you need. By improving sleep, you may be able to improve your health and your life in one move.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Las Vegas, Nev.